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UNIVERSITY  OF  N.C.  AT  CHAPEL  HILL 

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Digitized  by  tine  Internet  Arciiive 

in  2012  with  funding  from 

University  of  Nortin  Carolina  at  Chapel  Hill 


http://archive.org/details/peterparleystalegood 


ASIA, 


PETER    PARLEY'S  e^.^V^.  ^. 

TALES    ABOUT    ASIA. 


WITH  A  MAP  AND  NUMEROUS  ENGRAVINGS. 

BOSTON; 
GRAY  &  BOWEN,  AND  CARTER  &  HENDEE. 


DISTRICT  OF  MASSACHTTSETTS,  towif: 

District  Clerk's  Office, 
Be  it  remembered,  That  on  the  fifteenth  day  of  December,  A.  D. 
1830,  in  the  fifty-fifth  year  of  the  Independence  of  the  United  States 
OF  America,  Gray  Sf  Bowen,  of  the  said  District,  have  deposited  in 
this  office  the  title  of  a  book,  the  right  whereof  they  claim  as  propri- 
etors, in  the  words  following,  to  wit : 

'*  Peter  Parley's  Tales  about  Asia.     With  a  Map  and  numerous  Engrav- 
ings." 

In  conformity  to  the  act  of  the  Congress  of  the  United  States,  entitled  ,^ 
'  An  act  for  the  encouragement  of  learning  by  securing  the  copies  of 
maps,  charts,  and  books  to  the  authors  and  proprietors  of  such  copies, 
during  the  times  therein  mentioned  5"  and  also  to  an  act,  entitled,  "  An 
act  supplementary  to  an  act,  entitled,  an  act  for  the  encouragement  of 
learning,  by  securing  the  copies  of  maps,  charts^  and  books  to  the  authors 
and  proprietors  of  such  copies  during  the  times  therein  mentioned;  and 
extending  the  benefits  thereof  to  the  arts  of  designing,  engraving,  and 
etching  historical-  and  other  prints."' 

mo.  W.  DAVIS,  \  ""'''^^SS^^^ 


ADVERTISEMENT. 

This  is  designed  as  a  fourth  volume  in  a  series  of  Geographical  and 
Historical  Tales  for  children.  Tales  of  America,  Europe,  and  Africa, 
have  already  been  published.  Tales  of  Islands  in  the  Pacific  Ocean, 
Tales  of  the  Sea,  and  Tales  of  the  Sun,  Moon,  and  Stars,  completing  the 
series,  have  also  been  published. 


LANCASTER: 
CARTER,   ANDREWS,   AND   CO.,   PRINTERS. 


CONTENTS, 

Chapter.  Page. 

I.    Story  of  a  Tiger  and  Crocodile 5 

II.    Parley  tells  about  the  country  and  people  of  Asia    ,        .  11 

III.  Parley  tells  how  to  go  to  China,  and  how  he  went  there  .  7 

IV.  Description  of  Canton 24 

V.     Something  about  China,  and  the  Emperor,  and  Pekin  and 

Wankin 9 

VI.    Parley  tells  about  the  People  of  China       ....  34 

VII.    Parley  tells  about  Tartary,  and  the  Tartars        .         .         .  3^^ 

VIII.     Parley  gives  an  account  of  Thibet 44 

IX.     Some  account  of  Japan.     A  short  method  of  saying  pray- 
ers      48 

X.     Parley  meets  with  an  Adventure.     Tales  about  Tea          .  63 

XI.    Description  of  Malacca  and  the  Malays     ....  69 
XII.     Account  of  China,  India,  and  the  Birman  Empire.    Grand 

Procession.     Mr.  and  Mrs.  Judson          ....  62 

XIII.  Story  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Judson 64 

XIV.  Parley  tells  about  Hindostan,  the  Hindoos,  and  a  Hurri- 

cane            75 

XV.    About  Elephants,  Tigers,  Rhinoceroses,  and  Serpents       .  79 

XVJ.    Religion  of  the  Hindoos 83 

XVII.     Parley  returns  to  America.    A  Waterspout.     James  Jen- 
kins             87 

XVIII.     Adventures  of  James  Jenkins      .        .         .         .         .         .91 

XIX.  Some  account  of  Arabia.    Jenkins's  Adventures  continued  98 

XX.  Jenkins's  Adventures  continued 108^ 

XXI.        , ,        .114 


PETER  PARLEY^S  TALES 

ABOUT    ASIA. 


CHAPTER  1. 

Story  of  a  Tiger  and  Crocodile. 

*  Here  comes  old  Peter  Parley  once  more !' 

Yes,  here  I  am,  alive  and  well,  but  I  am 

more  lame,- -than  ^ I  was  Ja St  year..    I  used  to 

get  along  comfortably,  with  a  cane,  but  in  the 

winter  I  slipped  down  upon  the  ice,  as  I  was 

going  across  Boston  Common,  and  ever  since, 

I  have  been  obliged  to  go  about  with  a  crutch. 

But  if  my  legs  are  stiff,  my  tongue  is  free  ; 

and  as  I  cannot  walk  as  well  as  formerly,  I  love 

to    tell  stories  better  than  ever.     So  I  will 

now  tell  you  about  a  Tiger  and  a  Crocodile. 

1  # 


PARLEY^S    TALES    OF    ASIA. 


But  I  must  describe  these  animals,  for  I 
suppose  you  never  have  seen  either  of  them. 
The  Tiger  is  a  w^ild  cruel  animal,  shaped  like 
a  cat,  but  larger  than  the  largest  dog.  Here 
is  a  picture  of  a  Tiger. 


\»n .        - — ;«{m\\\\\\\\\\\\v--     ^^^^\      »    \V™i 


A  Crocodile  is  a  large  ugly  creature,  with  a 
prodigious  mouth,  a  long  tail,  and  a  hard  shell. 
It  lives  in  rivers,  and  can  sink  to  the  bottom, 
or  rise  to  the  top,  w^ith  great  ease.  It  is  very 
swift  in  the  water,  but  on  the  land,  it  crawls 


Describe  a  Tiger  1 
Describe  a  Crocodile  1 


parley's    tales    of    ASIA. 


about  with  difficulty.     Here  is  a  picture  of 
a  Crocodile. 


Now,  there  was  once  a  ship,  sailing  along  by 
the  mouth  of  a  river.  The  people  in  the  ship 
were  in  want  of  fresh  water,  for  you  know  the 
water  of  the  sea  is  salt,  and  cannot  be  drank. 
So  some  of  the  people  in  the  ship  went  ashore 
to  get  fresh  water. 

One  of  the  men  wandered  from  the  rest, 
and  went  to  a  considerable  distance  along  the 
bank  of  the  river.  By  and  by,  he  came  to  a 
beautiful  place,  and  sat  down  to  rest  himself. 
The  trees  and  bushes  were  loaded  with  ripe 
fruit,  and  fragrant  flowers.  There  were  a 
multitude  of  birds  with  bright  plumage,  in  the 


8  parley's    tales    of    ASIA. 

air  and  in  the  woods.  They  were  singing 
their  merry  songs,  and  sporting  amid  the 
branches  of  the  trees. 

It  was  indeed  a  delightful  spot,  and  the 
weather  being  warm,  the  wanderer  remained 
sometime  beneath  the  cool  shade  of  the  trees, 
looking  with  pleasure  upon  the  beautifid  scene. 
He  was  sitting  upon  the  grass  close  by  the 
river.  By  and  by,  he  thought  he  heard  a  slight 
noise  in  the  water.  He  turned  round,  and 
could  distinctly  see  a  large  Crocodile,  just  be- 
neath the  surface  of  the  clear  wave.  The 
huge  animal  was  already  close  to  him,  and 
the  man  could  see  his  projecting  eyeballs  fix- 
ed upon  him. 

Scarcely  had  he  time  to  spring  to  his  feet, 
before  the  open  jaws  of  the  Crocodile  were 
raised  above  the  water,  ready  to  receive  their 
prey.  The  man  instantly  leaped  upon  a  rock 
that  was  near  him,  and  was  preparing  to  fly 
from  the  spot,  when  a  new,  and  more  startling 
danger,  presented  itself.  Directly  before  him,  a 


PARLEY  S    TALES     OF    ASIA. 


huge  Tiger  lay  crouched  in  the  thicket.  The 
eye  of  the  animal  was  fixed  on  the  man,  and 
as  if  sure  of  his  victim,  he  was  waving  his  tail 
triumphantly  in  the  air. 

For  a  single  instant,  the  sailor  looked  in 
speechless  amazement  upon  the  Tiger.  Then 
with  a  sudden  leap,  he  sprang  aside,  in  the 
#faint  hope  of  escape.  With  the  agility  of  a 
cat,  the  Tiger  bounded  from  his  lurking  place. 
His  eyes  flashing,  and  his  claws  expanded,  he 
rushed  toward  his  intended  victim,  uttering  at 
the  same  moment  a  terrible  growl. 

But  he  missed  his  aim.  The  man  had  passed 
a  little  beyond  his  reach,  and  the  Tiger,  leaping 
nearly  over  his  head,  plunged,  like  a  thunder 
bolt,  into  the  very  jaws  of  the  Crocodile. 

Th'e  two  monsters  now  closed  with  each 
other  in  deadly  struggle.  The  Crocodile  drew 
the  Tiger  into  the  w^ater,  and  here  the  conflict 
was  terrible.  .  Each  striving  for  victory,  they 
alternately  rose  and  sank  in  the  river.  The 
waves  bubbled  and  swelled  around  them,  and 


PARLEY  S    TALES    OF    ASIA. 


TIGER  AND  CROCODILE. 


10  parley's    tales    of    ASIA. 

the  water  to  a  considerable  distance,  was 
stained  with  blood.  At  length  the  Tiger  rose 
to  the  surface  apparently  exhausted,  and  utter- 
ing a  thrilling  yell,  he  sank  in  the  stream. 
The  water  settled  quietly  over  him,  and  no 
more  was  seen  of  these  fearful  monstefs. 

The  sailor,  who  had  witnessed  this  scene, 
paused  a  moment,  and  fell  upon  his  knees,  to 
thank  Heaven  for  his  remarkable  deliverance. 
He  then  returned  to  his  companions,  and  told 
them  this  strange  story. 

Now,  where  do  you  think  this  affair  happen- 
ed, if  it  happened  at  all  ?  Not  in  America,  for 
there  are  no  Tigers  nor  Crocodiles  in  America. 
Not  in  Europe,  for  there  are  none  of  these 
animals  there.  Not  in  Africa,  for  there  are 
no  real  Tigers  there.  It  must  have  been  in 
Asia  therefore. 


Are  there  any  Tigers  or  Crocodiles  in  America  1 

Are  there  any  in  Europe  1 

Are  there  any  i-eal  Tigers  in  Afirica  1 

Where  are  Tigers  found  1 


parley's    tales    op    ASIA  11 

CHAPTER  II. 

Parley  tells  about  the  Countries  and  People  of  Jlsia. 

But  where  is  Asia  ?  That  is  what  I  am 
going  to  tell  you.  The  world,  jou  know,  is 
round,  and  Asia  is  on  the  other  side  of  it.  If 
you  will  take  an  apple,  and  stick  a  pin  in  one 
side  of  it,  then  turn  it  over,  and  stick  a  pin  in 
the  other  side  of  it,  one  of  these  pins  will 
represent  America,  and  the  other  Asia. 

In  order  to  go  to  Asia  one  may  travel  either 
east,  or  west.  A  part  of  the  way,  we  may  go 
by  land,  but  the  greater  part  of  the  distance 
we  must  sail  in  a  ship,  for  there  are  great 
oceans  between  us  and  Asia. 

Now  Asia  is  an  immense  country.  It  is 
larger  than  either  America,  Africa  or  Europe. 
It  has  as  many  people  in  it,  as  all  the  rest  of 
the  world.  It  is  the  country  in  which  Adam 
and  Eve  dwelt,  in  which  Moses,  David,  Solo- 
mon, and  our  Saviour  lived.     Asia  is,  in  fact, 


parley's    tales    of    ASIA. 


SIBDRIANS. 


CHINESE. 


12 

one  of  the  most  remarkable,  and  interesting 
portions  of  the  earth. 

At  the  beginninpj  of  this  book,  is  a  map  of 
x\sia.  The  top  of  the  map  is  north,  the  right, 
hand,  east,  the  bottom  part,  south,  and  the 
left  hand,  west.  Now  tl;fis  great  division  of 
the  world,  is  separated,  as  you  see  on  the 
map,  into  thirteen  different  countries. 

In  the  northern  part  is  Siberia,  a  cold  and 
desolate  country,  inhabited  for  the  most  part 
by  people  of  low  stature,  who  dress  in  furs  in 
winter,  live  in  small  cabins,  and  use  Rein  d^er 
for  drawing  their  sledges. 

To  the  south  of  Siberia,  is  the  Chinese 
empire.  This  consists  of  China,  from  which 
we  get  tea,  and  silk  goods  ;  and  several  nations 
of  Tartars.     The   Tartars  are   a  wandering 


Into  how  many  countries  is  Asia  divided  1 

In  what  part  of  Asia  is  Siberia'? 

Describe  the  Siberians. 

In  what  part  of  Asia  is  China"? 

Which  way  is  China  from  Hindoostan  *? 

From  Inile|)en(lont  Tartaryl     Fx'oin  Siberia! 

What  do  we  get  from  China  1 

Describe  the  Tartars. 


parley's    tales    of    ASIA. 


TARTARS. 


JAVANESE. 


parley's    tales    of    ASIA.  13 

people, 'who  live  in  tents,  possess  large  flocks 
of  cattle,  and  wander  from  place  to  place. 
They  are  excellent  horsemen,  are  fond  of  the 
chase,  and  martial  exercises,  and  despise  those 
people,  who  live  in  settled  habitations. 

China  is  the  southern  portion  of  the  Chi- 
nese empire.  It  is  full  of  people,  and  is  cross- 
ed in  every  direction  by  canals,  upon  which 
there  are  multitudes  of  boats,  carrying  goods 
to  various  parts  of  the  kingdom.  The  Chinese 
are  a  very  singular  people,  and  I  shall  tell  you 
more  about  them  by  and  by. 

A  little  to  the  east  of  China,  you  see  a 
group  of  islands,  the  largest  of  which  is  called 
Niphon.  These  islands  constitute  the  empire 
of  Japan.  The  Japanese  are  very  ingenious, 
but  they  are  so  suspicious  that  they  will  not 
let   Europeans   come   into   their  country.     I 

Describe  China. 

Where  are  the  Japan  isles  1 

In  what  direction  are  they  from  Persia  1 

From  China  1 

From  Hindoostan  1 

Which  is  the  largest  of  the  Japan  isles  1 

What  of  the  Japanese  1 


parley's    tales    of    ASIA. 


BURMANS. 


$ 


MALAYS. 


14  parley's  tales  of  ASIA. 

shall  tell  you  some  curious  things  about  them, 
before  I  have  done  my  story. 

South  of  the  Chinese  empire,  you  will  see  a 
broad  piece  of  land,  extending  into  the  ocean. 
This  is  called  Chin  India.  There  are  seve- 
ral nations  here,  the  principal  of  which,  is  the 
Birman  nation.  The  people  here  ride  about 
on  elephants,  as  we  do  on  horses.  I  shall 
tell  you  about  them  soon. 

At  the  extremity  of  Chin  India,  you  observe 
a  narrow  point  of  land,  projecting  in  a  south- 
easterly direction,  into  the  sea.  This  is  a 
peninsula,  and  is  called  Malacca.  The  people 
here,  are  a  wild  and  cruel  race,  and  the  coun- 
try is  infested  by  multitudes  of  tigers  and 
crocodiles. 

Now  look  on  the  map,  and  west  of  Chin 
India  you  will  see  a  country,  which  terminates 
in  a  sharp  point.     This  is  the  country  of  the 

In  what  direction  is  Chin  India  from  Hindoostaa  1     From  the  Japan 
isles  1     From  Turkey  1     Arabia '? 

What  is  the  principal  kingdom  in  Chin  India  1  What  of  the  Burraesel 
In  which  direction  is  Malacca  from  Japan  1  Afghanistan'?  Siberia"? 
Describe  Malacca.     What  of  tlie  people  1     What  of  the  wild  animals  1 


PARLEY  S    TALES    OF    ASIA. 


II^DEPENDEJNT  TARTARS. 


parley's    tales    of    ASIA  15 

Hindoos,  and  is  called  Hindoostan.  It  is  also 
often  called  India.  It  is  to  this  country,  that 
many  missionaries  have  been  sent.  I  have  no 
doubt  you  have  heard  how  the^e  Hindoos 
sometimes  drown  their  children,  vainly  im- 
agining that  in  so  doing  they  please  God. 

Beloo-chistan  comprises  several  different 
tribes  of  barbarous  people,  many  of  whom  are 
robbers.  Afghanistan,  which  lies  to  the  north 
of  Beloo-chistan,  is  occupied  by  a  nation  who 
are  fond  of  war  and  the  chase.  Persia,  lying 
to  the  west  of  Afghanistan,  is  inhabited  by  a 
nation,  who  are  fond  of  poetry  and  fine  horses. 

To  the  north  of  Persia  is  Independent  Tar- 
tary,  a  country  of  lofty  mountains  ;  and  inhab- 
ited by  a  nation  of  bold  and  daring  robbers. 

To  the  west  of  Independent  Tartary  is  a 

In  which  direction  is  Hiniloostan  from  Arabia  1     Turkey  1     Independ- 
ent Tartary  *?     Japan  1     China'? 

Wliat  do  the  Hindoos  sometimes  do  widi  tlieir  cliildren  1 
In  which  direction  is  Beloo-chistan  from  Japan  1     Wliat  of  the  people 
of  Eeloo-cliistan  1 

Which  v.ay  is  Afghanistan  from  Kamtskatka*?     What  of  the  Afghans  1 
Which  way  is  Persia  from  China '?     Japan  *?     Turkey'?     What  of  the 
people  of  Persia'?     Which    way  is  Independent  Tartary  from  China  1 
Hindoostan  '?    What  of  die  country '?     Of  the  people  1 


parley's    tales    of    ASIA. 


CAUCASSIANS. 


TURKS. 


16  parley's    tales    of    ASIA. 

great  salt  lake,  called  the  Caspian  sea.  On  the 
western  border  of  this  lake  are  the  Caucassian 
countries.  The  people  here,  are  remarkable 
for  their  beauty.  Many  of  the  young  wo- 
men are  carried  to  Turkey,  and  sold  for  slaves. 

Southwest  of  the  Caucassian  countries  is 
Turkey.  You  will  recollect  there  is  a  Tur- 
key in  Europe  also.  The  country  of  which  I 
am  now  telling  you  is  in  Asia.  It  is  subject 
to  the  Sultan  of  Turkey,  who  resides  at  Con- 
stantinople.    The  people  are  chiefly  Turks. 

South  of  Turkey  is  Arabia.  The  people 
are  a  wandering  race,  living  in  tents,  and  sub- 
sisting chiefly  by  means  of  their  flocks.  They 
have  a  great  many  camels,  and  the  most  beau- 
tiful horses  in  the  world.  In  Arabia,  and 
Turkey  in  Asia,  most  of  the  events  recorded 
in  the  old  and  new  Testament  took  place. 

Which  way  is  the  Caspian  sea  from  Japan  *?     Which  way  are  the  Cau- 
Gtissian  countries  from  Chin  India  *?     What  of  the  people  1 
Which  way  is  Turkey  from  Persia  1     China  1 
To  whom  is  Turkey  in  Asia  subject  1    What  of  tlie  people  1 
Which  way  is  Arabia  from  Persia  1     China  1     Japan  1     What  of  the 
people  1     What  animals  have  tliey '? 

What  events  have  taken  place  in  Arabia  and  Turkey  1 


parley's    tales    of    ASIA.  17 

Thus  I  have  told  you  about  the  divisions 
of  Asia,  and  the  principal  nations  and  tribes 
inhabiting  it.  These  nations,  have  none  of 
them  white  skins,  like  the  Americans,  nor  are 
any  of  them  as  black  as  Negroes.  Many  of 
them  are  as  dark  as  our  Indians,  and  some  of 
them  are  much  darker.  The  v^omen  of  Japan, 
and  the  Caucassian  women,  are  nearly  as 
white  as  the  women  of  America.  None  of 
them  are  Christians,  except  perhaps  a  very 
few,  and  these  have  an  imperfect  knowledge 
of  Christianity. 


CHAPTER  III. 

Parley  tells  how  to  go.  to  China,  and  how  he  went  there. 

Now  that  you  know  something  about  Asia, 
1  w'll  tell  you  the  way  to  go  to  it.  You  must 
get  into  a  ship  at  New  York,  or  Boston,  or 

What  of  the  complexion  of  the  people  of  Asia  %    Are  any  of  the  peo- 
ple of  Asia,  Christians  '? 

In  which  direction  must  you  sail  to  go  to  Asia  '? 


15  parley's    tales    of    ASIA. 

some  other  place,  and  sail  across  the  Atlantic 
ocean,  in  a  southeasterly  direction.  In  about 
five  or  six  weeks  jou  will  approach  the  south- 
ern point  of  Africa,  called  the  Cape  of  Good 
Hope.  You  will  double  this  cape,  as  the 
sailors  say  ;  that  is,  you  will  pass  around  it, 
and  enter  the  Indian  ocean.  This  is  about 
three  thousand  miles  wide.  You  will  cross  it 
in  an  easterly  direction.  By  and  by,  you  will 
come  to  some  great  islands.  Passing  between 
these  and  pursuing  a  northerly  course,  you  will 
soon  come  to  China.  It  will  probably  take 
you  about  four  months  to  go  from  New  York, 
or  Boston,  to  that  country.  The  whole  dis- 
tance, I  suppose,  is  about  fifteen  thousand 
miles,  measuring  the  track  of  the  vessel. 

I  have  told  you,  in  my  stories  about  Africa, 
how  I  once  crossed  the  Indian  ocean.     I  was 


How  long  will  it  take  to  go  to  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope  1 
Wlieie  is  tlie  Cape  of  Good  Hope  1     Which  way  is  it  from  you  1 
What  ocean  do  you  cross  between  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope  and  China  1 

How  far  across  the  Indian  ocean  1 

How  long  does  it  take  a  vessel  to  go  from  Boston  to  China  1    How 

many  miles  does  a  vessel  sail  to  reach  China,  from  Boston  '? 


parley's    TAI/S    op    ASIA.     •  V3 

going  to  China,  you  remember  ;  8/id  one  day, 
as  we  were  sailing  in  the  ship  Kien  Long,  we 
saw  a  very  remarkable  object  before  us  in  the 
sea.  At  first  it  appeared  like  the  back  of  a 
great  elephant,  and  then  it  appeared  like  a 
dark  thunder  cloud.  As  we  came  nearer,  we 
discovered  that  it  was  an  island,  covered  with 
mountainous  peaks,  so  black  and  ragged,  as  to 
wear  a  truly  frightful  appearance.  I  was  told 
that  volcanoes  once  existed  in  these  mountains, 
and  earthquakes  are  still  very  common. 

To  the  southeast  of  Asia  are  a  great  number 
of  islands,  some  of  which  are  very  large. 
There  are  a  great  many  inhabitants  in  them, 
and  they  produce  many  valuable  articles  of 
commerce,  such  as  nutmegs,  pepper,  cloves, 
camphor,  and  other  things.  I  passed  between 
two  of  these  islands,  one  was  Sumatra,  and 
the  other  Java.     I  should  like   to   tell  you 


What  lie  to  the  scntheast  of  Asia  1 
What  can  you  tel   of  these  islands  1 
What  islands  di'   Parley  pass  between  1 
What  sea  did  he  ,'ross  1 


20  parley's  tales  of  asia. 

about  these,  and  the  other  islands  in  the  Pa- 
cific ocean.  Their  story  is  very  interesting, 
but  I  cannot  tell  it  now.  Perhaps  I  may  tell 
you  about  them,  at  some  future  time. 

Well,  as  I  was  telling  you,  we  sailed  along 
in  our  ship,  and  entered  the  China  sea.  Pro- 
ceeding in  a  northerly  course  across  this  sea, 
we  came  at  length  to  the  mouth  of  a  very 
large  river.  There  were  a  multitude  of  islands, 
and  we  found  it  somewhat  difficult  to  navigate 
our  ship  between  them. 

We  came  at  length  to  Macao,  which  is  sit- 
uated on  an  island.  It  was  built  by  the  Por- 
tuguese, many  years  ago,  and  was  once  a 
place  of  great  importance.  But  it  is  now  a 
small  town.  We  continued  to  sail  up  the 
river,  which  we  found  very  broad,  with  a 
great  many  islands  in  it.  By  and  by,  we 
began  to  approach  Canton.  The  banks  of 
the    river   were    beautifully   cultivated,    the 

Where  is  Macao  1 

What  can  j'ou  tell  of  Macao  1 

How  did  the  land  appear  as  Piu'ley  approached  China  1 


PARLEY  S    TALES    OF    ASIA.  21 

plains,  the  slopes,  and  the  very  hills,  which 
hung  over  the  w^ater,  were  covered  with  many 
kinds  of  fruit,  grain,  and  vegetables.  The 
whole  landscape,  on  both  sides  of  the  river, 
seemed  like  a  garden. 

The  surface  of  the  water  was  covered  with 
a  multitude  of  boats,  of  various  forms,  and  di- 
mensions. They  were  differently  fashioned 
from  our  American  boats.  Most  of  them 
were  painted  with  two  eyes  on  the  forepart, 
and  ornamented  with  figures  of  beasts,  birds, 
and  serpents,  on  the  stern  or  hinderpart. 

The  number  of  these  boats  was  really 
countless.  Some  of  them  sat  motionless  on 
the  water,  others  were  moving  forward  with  a 
slow,  and  heavy  progress,  and  others  still 
were  rapidly  shooting  over  the  waves,  like 
birds  gliding  in  the  air. 

It  was  a  strange,  yet  beautiful  scene.  The 
air  was  soft  and  balmy,  the  shores  were  sprin- 


What  does  Parley  say  of  the  boats  in  the  river  of  Canton  1 
How  does  Parley  describe  the  scene  1 


22  PARLEY'S    TALES    OF    ASIA. 

kled  over  with  houses,  the  land  was  green 
with  vegetation,  and  the  very  bosom  of  the 
river  was  alive  with  men  and  women,  pur- 
suing their  various  avocations. 

At  first,  it  all  seemed  to  me  like  a  dream. 
The  houses  were  unlike  any  I  had  seen  before, 
.he  modes  of  cultivating  the  lands,  the  plants, 
^nd  the  trees,  were  all  singular.  The  fashion 
of  the  boats  was  strange,  the  dress,  complex- 
ion, and  features  of  the  people  were  all  new. 

There  is  nothing  more  pleasant  than  the 
first  sight  of  a  strange  land.  I  was  indeed 
delighted  with  the  scene.  I  stood  upon  the 
deck  of  the  vessel,  quietly  gazing  upon  the 
objects  around  me,  when  suddenly  a  loud  cry 
burst  from  the  boats  near  us ;  this  was  fol- 
lowed by  a  crash,  and  screams  of  distress. 
I  looked  over  the  side  of  the  vessel,  and  dis- 
covered that  our  ship  had  upset  one  of  the 
boats,  with  three  men  and   two  women  in  it. 

What  accident  happened  to  one  of  the  boats  1 


parley's    tales    of    ASIA.  23 

These  people  were  immediately  carried  under 
the  vessel,  and  I  supposed  that  they  must  cer- 
tainly he  drowned.  But  very  soon  they  were 
all  seen  amid  the  agitated  waves  at  the  stern 
of  the  vessel,  swimming  like  ducks,  and  tos- 
sing up  and  down  like  corks,  upon  the  billows. 
They  were  immediately  taken  up  by  the  other 
boats,  and  not  one  was  drowned. 

We  now  arrived  at  Whampoa,  which  is 
about  thirteen  miles  from  Canton.  Here  our 
vessel  stopped.  All  foreign  vessels  are  re- 
quired to  stop  here,  and  are  not  permitted  to 
go  farther  up  the  river  toward  Canton.  There, 
their  goods  are  taken  out,  and  carried  in  boats 
to  the  city  of  Canton.  Goods  are  also  brought 
from  the  city,  and  put  on  board  the  vessels  at 
this  place. 

Where  is  Whampoa  1     What  of  foreign  vessels  1 


24  parley's  tales  of  asia. 

CHAPTER  IV. 

Description  of  Canton. 

Very  soon  after  our  arrival  at  Whampoa, 
I  went  up  in  a  boat  to  the  city  of  Canton. 
This  is,  in  many  respects,  one  of  the  most  re- 
markable cities  in  the  world.  The  number 
of  inhabitants  is  five  times  as  great  as  that  of 
Boston,  and  tw^ice  that  of  New  York. 

The  city  is  nearly  square,  and  is  surround- 
ed by  strong  walls,  within  which  no  foreigner 
is  allowed  to  enter.  The  streets  are  long  and 
straight,  and  are  chiefly  paved  with  hewn  stone. 
These  streets  are  kept  extremely  neat,  some 
of  them  are  covered  over  with  arched  roofs. 
Here  the  shops  are  full  of  rich,  and  beautiful 
goods. 

The  houses  are  of  one  story,  and  built  of 
brick.     They  have  no  windows  looking  into 


How  many  inhabitants  in  Cantoa  1 
Describe  the  city. 


parley's    tales    of    ASIA,  25 

the  streets.  The  streets  are  always  swarming 
with  people,  particularly  with  porters.  There 
are  no  coaches,  nor  carriages,  no  rattling  stages, 
and  no  thundering  trucks.  All  the  burdens  are 
carried  about  by  the  porters;  even  people,  men 
and  women,  who  are  too  rich,  or  too  lazy,  to  go 
on  foot,  are  carried  in  chairs  by  the  porters. 

These  porters  have  their  heads,  legs,  and 
feet  bare,  their  body  is  covered  with  a  kind 
of  short  frock,  and  their  hair,  which  is  coarse, 
black,  and  more  than  a  yard  long,  is  braided, 
and  hangs  in  a  long  cue  down  their  bodies. 

The  trade  of  Canton  is  immense.  There 
are  sometimes  five  thousand  foreign  ships  at 
Whampoa.  When  lying  together,  their  count- 
less masts  look  like  a  forest  of  trees.  These 
ships  come  from  every  part  of  Europe,  and 
America.  The  Chinese  have  very  little  need 
of  the  manufactures,  or  the  productions  of  oth- 
er countries.     Their  own  country  is  so  fruitful, 

What  of  the  trade  of  Canton  1 


26  PARLEY'S    TALES    OF    ASIA. 

and  they  are  so  industrious,  that  they  produce 
at  home,  almost  everything  they  want. 

The  foreign  ships,  therefore,  bring  to  Chi- 
na little  else  beside  silver  money.  They 
bring  a  little  opium,  and  a  few  other  things, 
but  the  amount  is  small.  Attracted  by  the 
large  sums  of  money  brought  to  Canton,  the 
people  from  all  parts  of  the  kingdom,  bring  to 
this  city  immense  quantities  of  goods. 

These  consist  of  tea,  porcelain,  a  species 
of  fine  earthenware  called  china,  nankins,  silks, 
gold  in  bars,  mother-of-pearl,  and  sugar.  These 
goods  are  transported  to  Canton  on  the  canals, 
which  communicate  with  all  parts  of  the  em- 
pire. Immense  numbers  of  boats,  loaded  with 
goods,  may  at  all  times  be  seen  coming  down 
the  Canton  river,  which  is  navigable  for  three 
hundred  miles,  into  a  fruitful,  and  beautifully 
cultivated  country. 


What  induces  the  Chinese  to  bi-ing  goods  to  Canton  1 
AVhat  are  the  principal  articles  furnished  to  foreign  traders  1 
How  are  goods  brought  to  Canton  1 


parley's    tales    of    ASIA.  27 

No  foreigners,  as  I  have  before  said,  are  per- 
mitted to  enter  the  city  of  Canton.  They  are 
obliged,  therefore,  to  remain  in  the  suburbs. 
These  are  quite  extensive,  and  constitute  of 
themselves  a  fine  city.  Here  a  great  many 
Americans,  Englishmen,  and  other  Europeans 
reside,  for  the  purpose  of  superintending  the 
trade,  carried  on  with  their  respective  coun- 
tries. There  are  also  many  silk  manufac- 
tories here,  several  of  which  belong  to  for- 
eigners. 

About  three  miles  from  the  city  of  Canton, 
there  is  a  place  called  the  Boat  Town.  This 
consists  of  about  forty  thousand  boats,  which 
cover  the  river,  and  form  a  kind  of  floating 
city.  These  boats  all  touch  one  another,  and 
are  ranged  so  as  to  form  streets.  The  people 
who  inhabit  them  have  no  other  dwelling,  and 
are  prohibited  by  law  from  settling  on  the 
shore.     Each  boat  lodges  a  family,  including 


What  of  the  suburbs  of  Canton  1 
Who  reside  in  these  suburbs  1 


28 

grandparents  and  grandchildren.  The  num- 
ber of  mhabitants  is  probably  one  hundred 
thousand. 

The  country  around  Canton  is  beautiful  and 
healthy.  It  abounds  in  all  the  necessaries, 
and  delicacies  of  life.  This  city  is  the  only 
place  in  China,  where  Europeans  go  to  trade. 

The  great  article  of  export,  is  tea  ;  of  this, 
forty  million  pounds,  are  sometimes  sent 
away  in  a  year.  The  management  of  trade 
at  Canton,  is  committed  to  a  council  called 
Hong.  This  council  consists  of  twelve  or 
fourteen  rich  merchants. 


Describe  the  Boat  Town  near  Canton. 

What  of  the  country  around  Canton  1 

What  is  the  chief  article  of  export  1 

How  many  pounds  of  tea  are  sent  in  a  year  away  from  China  ? 

To  whom  is  the  management  of  trade  at  Canton  committed  1 


parley's  *TALES  OP  ASIA.  29 


CHAPTER  V. 

Something  about  China,  and  the  Emperor,  and  Pehin,  and 

JVankin. 

I  HAVE  now  told  you  about  Canton.  To  us, 
it  is  the  most  important  of  all  the  cities  of  Chi- 
na, because  it  is  the  only  one,  with  which  we 
have  any  intercourse.  I  will  now  tell  you 
something  more  about  the  kingdom.  The 
whole  country  of  China,  is  about  two-thirds 
as  large  as  the  United  States.  The  number 
of  people  is  probably  one  hundred  and  fifty 
million.  It  is  therefore  very  thickly  settled. 
Very  few  Europeans  have  been  into  the  inte- 
rior of  China,  because  the  government  is  very 
jealous  of  foreigners,  and  will  not  allow  them 
to  travel  there. 

A  few  persons,  however,  have  passed  through 


Why  is  Canton  the  most  important  city  to  us  in  China  1 
What  is  the  extent  of  China  1     How  many  people  in  China  1 
What  do  the  Chinese  say  of  tlieir  country  1 


30  parley's  tale»  of  asia. 

some  portions  of  China,  and  they  all  agree  in 
describing  the  country  as  full  of  people.  The 
Chinese  say,  themselves,  that  in  China  there 
are  niore  than  four  thousand  cities,  that  the 
sea  coast  is  defended  by  four  hundred  and 
thirty-nine  castles,  and  that  the  villages,  scat- 
tered over  the  country,  are  innumerable.  The 
army  consists  of  a  million  of  soldiers. 

Almost  the  whole  surface  of  China  is  under 
cultivation.  The  lands  are  tilled  with  the 
greatest  industry.  Even  steep  mountains  are 
rendered  productive.  Walls  are  built  around 
them  to  support  the  soil,  and  w^ater  is  raisec} 
by  chain  pumps,  and  sprinkled  over  them,  tc 
give  them  fertility. 

I  have  told  you  before,  that  there  were  a 
great  many  canals  in  China.  These  run  in 
every  direction,  and  extend  over  the  whole 
kingdom.  The  largest  of  these  is  called  the 
Imperial   Canal.     It  extends  from  Pekin  to 


What  of  the  cultivation  of  the  soil  in  China  1 
What  of  Canals  1     Of  the  Imperial  Canal '' 


Parley's  tales  of  asia.  31 

Canton.  These  two  cities  are  but  about  one 
thousand  miles  apart,  but  this  canal,  including 
its  windings,  is  more  than  one  thousand  six 
hundred  miles  in  length. 

One  of  the  greatest  curiosities  in  China  is 
the  great  wall.  It  is  built  of  stone,  and  is 
one  thousand  five  hundred  miles  long.  It  is 
carried  over  mountains  and  valleys,  and  is  gen- 
erally about  thirty  feet  high.  It  is  so  broad, 
that  six  horsemen  can  ride  abreast  upon  it.  It 
forms  the  boundary  line  of  China  on  the  north, 
and  was  built  many  hundred  years  ago,  to 
protect  the  country  from  the  Tartars,  who 
frequently  invaded  it.  This  is  the  greatest 
human  structure  on  the  face  of  the  globe,  and 
clearly  attests  the  great  energy  and  patience 
of  the  Chinese. 

The  emperor  of  China  resides  at  Pekin. 
This  city  is  one  of  the  largest  in  the  world. 
It  is  about  one  thousand  miles  from  Canton, 


What  of  the  Great  Wain 

Where  does  the  Emperor  of  China  live  1    What  of  Pekin  1 


32  parley's    tales    op    ASIA. 

in  a  direction  nearly  north.  It  is  enclosed  by 
high  walls,  and  is  exactly  square.  The  streets 
of  Pekin  are  straight,  and  the  principal  ones 
are  three  miles  in  length. 

It  is  astonishing  to  see,  the  immense  con- 
course of  people  that  continually  fills  them. 
They  are  also  thronged  with  numberless  mules, 
camels,  horses  and  carriages.  It  is  remarka- 
ble, that,  amidst  this  assemblage  of  living  and 
moving  things,  no  women  are  to  be  seen. 

The  emperor's  palace,  which  is  in  the  city, 
covers  an  extent  of  ground  four  miles  and  a 
half  in  circumference.  It  presents  an  assem- 
blage of  vast  buildings,  extensive  courts,  and 
magnificent  gardens,  and  is  surrounded  on  all 
sides  by  a  double  wall. 

From  this  account  it  appears,  that  Pekin  is 
truly  an  immense  city.  It  probably  contains 
ten  times  as  many  people  as  New  York. 
What  a  prodigious  population !     We  can  hard- 


Describe  the  Emperor's  Palace  at  Pekin. 
How  many  people  in  Pekin  1 


parley's    tales    of    ASIA. 


TOWER  OF  NANKIN. 


parley's    tales    of    ASIA.  33 

\y  conceive,  that  so  many  people  could  be 
crowded  into  one  town. 

But  the  Chinese  require  very  little  room  to 
live  in.  Three  generations,  including  grand- 
parents and  grandchildren,  often  live  in  one 
house,  and  the  houses  are  generally  small. 
They  are  usually  surrounded  by  walls,  six  or 
seven  feet  high.  All  the  inmates  of  a  house 
eat  in  one  room,  and  their  beds  are  only  sepa- 
rated by  mats  hanging  from  the  wall. 

Nankin  is  another  famous  city  of  China. 
It  was  once  the  largest  in  the  empire,  but  now 
it  is  decayed.  Its  walls  are  sixteen  miles  in 
circumference.  It  still  abounds  in  manufacto- 
ries of  silk.  This  city  has  given  name  to  the 
yellowish  cotton  goods,  called  nankeen,  so 
well  known  in  this  country. 

In  this  city  there  is  a  very  remarkable  curi- 
osity. This  is  a  tower  which  is  built  of  porce- 
lain, nearly  two  hundred  feet  high,  that  is, 


Describe  the  houses  in  Pekin. 
Describe  Nankin. 


parley's    tales    of    ASIA. 


34  PAULEY  S    TALES    OF    ASIA 

higher  than  the  tallest  steeple  in  Boston.  It 
is  divided  into  nine  stories,  and  is  ascended  by 
eight  hundred  and  eighty-four  steps.  In  the 
corners  of  all  the  galleries  are  hung  bells  with- 
out number,  which  produce  clear  and  delight- 
ful sounds,  by  the  impulse  of  the  wind. 


CHAPTER  VI. 

Pa7'ley  tells  about  the  People  of  China. 

I  WILL  now  tell  you  something  of  the  people 
of  China.  I  will  begin  with  the  Emperor. 
His  name  is  Kia  King.  This  was  the  sixteenth 
son  of  Kien  Long,  a  celebrated  Emperor  ol 
China,  who  lived  to  the  age  of  eighty-six.  It 
was  after  this  Emperor  that  the  ship  I  sailed 
in  was  named. 

The  Emperor  of  China  usually  resides  at 
Pekin,  but  he  has  a  palace  at  a  little  distance 
from  the  city,  where  he  sometimes  lives.  The 
picture  of  this  palace  is  given  on  the  opposite 

What  was  the  name  of  the  Emperor  of  China,  when  Parley  was  in  tha 
country  1         What  can  you  tell  about  him  1 


parley's    tales    of    ASIA.  35 

page.  The  will  of  this  sovereign  throughout 
his  dominions,  is  absolute.  He  can  take  away 
the  life  or  the  property  of  any  individual.  If 
he  is  disposed  to  do  wickedly,  there  is  no  law 
to  restrain  him.  The  people  bow  to  his  au- 
thority, with  abject  and  slavish  submission. 

He  is  styled  the  sole  ruler  of  the  earth,  and 
the  son  of  heaven.  He  is  sometimes  surrounded 
by  a  retinue  of  forty  thousand  soldiers  as  his 
guards,  with  their  colors  and  music;  and  the  nu- 
merous princes  and  grandees  of  the  empire,  and 
frequently  tributary  kings,  heighten  this  pomp. 

Such  is  the  servile  reverence  paid  to  the 
Emperor,  that  it  is  customary  to  kneel  before 
his  mandates  or  written  commands,  and  touch 
the  earth  nine  times  with  the  forehead.  A 
few  years  after  I  was  in  China,  Lord  Amherst, 
an  English  ambassador  sent  by  the  king  of 
England,  was  dismissed,  without  seeing  the 
Emperor,  for  refusing  to  perform  this  ceremony. 

AVhat  do  the  people  style  the  Emperor'? 

What  reverence  is  paid  to  the  mandates  of  the  Emperor  1 

Wbut  can  you  tell  about  Lord  Amherst  1 


parley's    tales    of    ASIA. 


I::.: 


CHINESE  IDOL. 


36  parley's  tales  of  asia 

The  religion  of  the  Chinese  is  very  singular. 
They  do  not  believe  in  the  Bible,  nor  do  they 
know  anything  about  it.  The  learned  men 
have,  in  fact,  very  little  religion  at  all.  They 
pay  great  reverence  to  the  opinions  of  Con- 
fucius, an  ancient  Chinese  philosopher. 

The  common  people  are  chiefly  worshippers 
of  a  deity,  who  bears  the  name  of  Fo.  They 
have  many  temples  filled  with  gigantic  images, 
to  which  they  attribute  great  virtues,  and  pay 
great  devotion.  The  priests  are  called  Bon- 
zes; and  the  people  are  fond  of  processions, 
and  pompous  religious  ceremonies. 

The  truth  is,  the  Chinese  are  an  ignorant 
and  superstitious  people,  and  their  religion  is 
a  system,  contrived  by  cunning  priests,  to  ob- 
tain influence*  over  them.  Like  the  religion 
of  Mahomet,  it  is  a  false  religion.     It  does 


What  of  the  reh'gion  in  China  1 
Who  do  the  learned  men  reverence  1 
Who  do  the  common  people  worship  1 
To  what  do  the  people  pay  great  oevotion  1 
What  are  the  priests  called  1 


parley's    tales    of    ASIA.  37 

not  make  men  good,  or  wise,  or  happy.  It 
does  not  teach  them  how  to  live  well  in  this 
world,  or  how  to  make  due  preparation  for 
another. 

The  Chinese  are  rather  shorter  than  the 
Americans.  Thej  are  of  a  pale  yellow  com- 
plexion. A  man  who  is  very  fat,  is  always 
thought  to  be  handsome.  Little  feet  are 
thought  to  be  indispensable  to  ladies  ;  in  order 
to  make  their  feet  small,  tight  bandages  are 
put  on  them,  when  they  are  infants,  and  con- 
tinued till  they  cease  to  grow;  consequently, 
the  women  are  nearly  all  cripples. 

The  Emperor  and  his  family,  are  alone  per- 
mitted to  wear  yellow  clothes,  the  common 
people  are  allowed  to  wear  only  blue  or  black, 
and  white  is  the  color  for  mourning.  The 
fashions  of  dress  never  change.     The  dress  of 


What  do  the  Chinese  think  of  fat  men  1 

What  strange  opinions  have  they,  in  regard  to  the  feet  of  women  1 

Who  alone  are  permitted  to  wear  yellow  clofJies  1 

What  colors  are  worn  by  tne  common  people  1 

What  is  the  color  for  mourning  1 


38  PARLEY^S    TALES    OF    ASIA. 

some  of  the  people  will  be  seen  by  the  pic- 
tures on  the  opposite  page. 

The  character  of  the  Chinese  is  by  no 
means  an  agreeable  one.  There  is  nothing 
like  education  among  the  mass  of  the  people. 
The  women  are  kept  in  a  state  of  ignorance, 
dependence,  and  seclusion.  The  men  are 
servile,  deceitful,  and  utterly  regardless  of 
truth.  From  the  Emperor  to  the  beggar, 
through  every  rank  of  society,  through  every 
grade  of  office,  there  is  a  system  of  cheating 
and  hypocrisy,  practised  without  scruple,  and 
without  remorse.  The  Europeans  have  found 
^y  experience,  that  no  faith  whatever  can  in 
general  be  reposed  in  the  Chinese. 

Thus  1  have  given  you  a  sketch  of  China. 
It  is  one  of  the  most  extensive  kingdoms, 
and  by  far  the  most  populous,  in  the  world. 
Enjoying  a  delightful  climate,  and  a  fertile 
soil,  a  land  beautifully  diversified  by  hills  and 
valleys,  and  watered  with  hundreds  of  rivers  ; 

What  of  the  character  of  the  people  1 


PARLEVS    TALES    OF    ASIA.  39 

it  is  still  rather  painful,  than  pleasant,  to  con- 
template it.  However  beautiful  is  the  aspec* 
of  nature,  still,  if  the  people  of  a  country  are 
degraded,  by  the  influence  of  a  despotic  gov- 
ernment and  an  idolatrous  religion,  that  coun- 
try is  unhappy. 


CHAPTER  VII, 

Parley  tells  about  Tartary  and  the  Tartars. 

I  AM  afraid  my  account  of  China  has  been 
a  tedious  one.  I  will  now  tell  you  of  another 
country,  the  people  of  which  you  may  think 
still  more  singular  than  the  Chinese.  To  the 
north  and  west  of  China  is  a  country,  called 
Tartary.  It  is  nearly  in  the  middle  of  Asia, 
and  is  often  called  Central  Asia.  It  is  in  gen- 
eral a  very  elevated  country,  nearly  surrounded 
by  mountains. 

This  region,  spreading  out  to  an  immense 
extent,  and  including  a  territory  more  than 

Wliere  is  Tartary  1 


40  x'ARLEY  S    TALES    OF    ASIA. 

twice  as  large  as  the  United  States,  is  thinly 
inhabited  by  various  wandering  hordes,  scat- 
tered over  the  country,  who  are  known  under 
the  general  name  of  Tartars. 

The  people  in  their  personal  appearance 
have  a  strong  resemblance  to  our  American 
Indians,  though  they  are  somewhat  shorter. 
They  do  not  settle  in  towns,  and  pursue 
various  kinds  of  business,  as  people  do  here. 
On  the  contrary,  they  lead  a  wandering  life, 
and  look  with  contempt  upon  those  who  live  in 
fixed  habitations  and  pursue  regular  employ- 
ments. 

The  Tartars  do  not  till  the  land,  nor  do 
vegetables  form  scarcely  any  part  of  their  food. 
They  live  chiefly  upon  meat,  and  are  very 
fond  of  horseflesh,  mutton  and  venison. 

They  have  plenty  of  milk,  butter,  and 
cheese.     They   prefer   mare's    milk   to    any 


How  extensive  is  Tartary  1 
Whom  do  the  Tartars  resemble  1 
How  do  they  live  1 


parley's    tales    of    ASIA.  41 

cyther.  Of  this  they  make  a  strong  spirit  of 
which  they  are  v6Ty  fond.  The  houses  of  this 
people  consist  of  tents  which  are  fora^d  of 
sticks  stuck  in  the  ground  and  covered  with 
felt,  a  coarse  sort  of  cloth. 

The  Tartars  have  a  great  many  horses  of 
a  fine  breed,  they  are  excellent  riders  and  are 
almost  constantly  on  horseback.  It  has  been 
said  that  they  eat,  drank,  and  slept  on  horse- 
back, but  this  like  some  other  travellers'  sto- 
ries is  not  true. 

They  are  very  expert  in  the  use  of  lances; 
these  are  long  weapons  twice  the  length  of  a 
man's  body  with  an  iron  point  at  one  end. 
They  are  used  in  war  and  in  hunting  wild  ani- 
mals. The  Tartars  throw  them  with  such 
skill  and  force  as  to  make  them  pass  entirely 
through  the  body  of  a  man  or  deer  at  the  dis- 
tance of  six  or  seven  rods. 

They  are  very  dexterous  also  in  the  use  of 

Describe  the  houses  of  the  Tartars. 
In  what  are  the  Tartars  expert "? 
How  do  the  Tartars  use  the  lance  1 


42  parley's  tales  of  asia. 

the  Low  and  arrow,  in  which  they  appear  to  be 
fully  equal  to  the  American  Indians.  These 
people  are  exceedingly  fond  of  the  chase. 
Large  numbers  of  them  go  together  on  horse- 
back in  pursuit  of  deer  and  other  animals. 
The  swiftness  of  the  horses,  the  boldness  of 
the  riders,  and  the  eagerness  and  skill  of  the 
hunters,  render  these  amusements  very  ani- 
mating. 

The  Tartars  are  generally  Mahometans, 
though  some  of  them  profess  other  religions. 
Among  other  curious  customs  which  belong  to 
them,  the  Tartars  when  they  bury  a  man, 
bury  with  him  his  best  horse,  afid  sucbjotlier 
articles  as  he  possessed  which  they^este^m  of 
the  greatest  value.  These,  they  imagine  will 
be  useful  to  him  in  the  other  world. 

I  might  tell  you  much  more  about  this  sin- 
gular people,  for  they  have  many  curious  cus- 
toms and  are  a  very  celebrated  race.     Having 

What  other  weapons  do  th^e  Tartars  use  1 
What  is  the  religion  of  the  Tartars  1 
What  singular  custom  have  the  Tartars  ? 


43 

a  warlike  disposition,  and  living  in  a  country 
that  is  in  general  barren,  they  have  often  made 
inroads  upon  their  more  wealthy  neighbours. 

China  has  been  many  times  conquered  and 
overrun  by  them  ;  and  the  present  Emperor  of 
China  is  a  descendant  of  a  Tartar  prince  that 
once  conquered  the  country.  It  was,  as  I 
have  told  you,  to  interrupt  the  invasions  of 
the  bold  Tartars  that  the  great  Chinese  wall 
was  built. 

These  people  have  also  frequently  descen- 
ded upon  India,  and  carried  off  immense  rich- 
es, from  that  country.  They  have,  in  fact,  at 
different  periods  of  time,  spread  themselves 
over  almost  every  portion  of  Asia,  and  subjec- 
ted the  inhabitants  to  their  dominion. 

At  the  present  time,  however,  these  various 
tribes  are  subject  to  the  Emperor  of  China, 
and  their  country  now  passes  under  the  gen- 
eral name  of  Chinese  Tartary. 

Wliy  was  tlie  Chinese  wall  built  *? 

What  have  the  Tartais  frequently  done  in  respect  to  Indial 

To  whom  are  the  Tartar  tribes  now  subject  1 


44  parley's  tales  of  asia. 

CHAPTER  VIII. 

Parley  gives  an  account  of  Thibet. 

I  MUST  not  omit  to  tell  you  something 
about  another  remarkable  country,  subject  to 
China.  This  is  Thibet,  a  country  of  lofty 
mountains  and  deep  valleys,  and  abounding  in 
rocky  precipices,  roaring  cataracts,  and  peaks, 
whose  tall  summits  are  always  covered  with 
snow.  On  the  southern  boundary  of  this 
country  are  the  loftiest  mountains  in  the  world. 
These  are  called  the  Himmaleh  mountains. 

They  are  more  than  one  hundred  times  as' 
high,  as  the  tallest  steeple  in  New  England. 
They  have  never  been  ascended  to  the  top, 
by  any  human  foot :  their  peaks  are  always 
covered  with  masses  of  snow  and  ice,  which 
do  not  disappear  even  in  summer. 

No  living  thing  ascends  these  awful  heights, 
except   some  surefooted  goats,  and    solitary 

What  kind  of  a  country  is  Tliibetl 
How  high  are  the  Himmaleh  mountains  1 


parley's    tales    of    ASIA.  45 

birds,  that  occasionally  wander  to  them.  At 
a  distance,  the  traveller  looks  upon  these  stu- 
pendous works  of  nature,  with  wonder  and 
amazement. 

When  the  sun  shines  upon  the  glittering 
tops  of  these  mountains,  they  seem  like  mag- 
nificent cities  of  gold  and  silver,  with  towers 
and  steeples  and  palaces.  When  the  shadow^s 
of  evening  fall  upon  them,  these  seeming  cities 
vanish,  and  the  mountains  look  like  a  cloud, 
heaving  its  mighty  front  across  the  sky,  and 
threatening  all  around  with  the  coming  tempest. 

The  interior  of  Thibet  is  but  little  known. 
Few  travellers  have  ever  penetrated  into  these 
wild  regions.  The  inhabitants  appear  to  be 
a  mild  race  of  Tartars.  They  have  a  species 
of  goat,  which  produces  the  fine  wool,  of  which 
the  Cashmere  shawls  are  made.  This  wool 
is  carried  to  Cashmere,  in  India,  and  there 
made  into  shawls. 


Whit  can  yon  tell  of  the  inhabitants  of  Thibet  1 
What  kind  of  goat  have  they  among  them  1 


46  parley's   tales   of   asia. 

These  shawls  are  so  much  prized,  both  in 
our  country  and  in  Europe,  that  they  sell  for 
three  or  four  hundred  dollars.  Most  of  those 
that  are  brought  here,  are  sold  for  from  one  to 
two  hundred  dollars.  These  are  generally 
second  hand  articles.  They  are  first  worn  by 
the  Hindoos  on  their  heads  for  turbans.  After 
their  beauty  is  in  some  degree  lost,  they  are 
dressed  over,  and  sent  to  this  country. 

Thibet  is  chiefly  celebrated  as  being  the  seat 
of  the  Grand  Lama.  This  is  the  god  wor- 
shipped throughout  a  very  considerable  part  of 
Asia.  He  lives  in  a  great  temple  upon  the 
mountains.  In  this  temple  are  said  to  be  ten 
thousand  rooms,  which  are  filled  with  various 
images,  and  idols  of  gold  and  silver.  Immense 
numbers  of  pilgrims,  from  nearly  all  parts  of 
Asia,  are  constantly  flocking  to  this  temple,  to 
pay  their  homage  to  the  Grand  Lama. 

The  people  of  Thibet  say,  that  this  object 
of  their  devotion  is  a  man,  into  whose  body 

What  pf  the  Grand  Lamal 


parley's    tales    of    ASIA. 


TEMPLE  OF  THE  GRA.XD  LAMA. 


parley's    tales    of    ASIA.  47 

the  spirit  of  god  has  entered.  When  the  man 
dies,  thej  say  that  the  deity  then  enters  the 
body  of  another  man,  and  thus  renders  himself 
perpetually  visible  to  his  creatures. 

The  man  that  has,  as  they  suppose,  thus 
become  their  deity,  sits  cross-legged  upon  a 
throne,  and  receives  the  homage  of  his  worship- 
pers. The  Thibetians  pretend  that  a  divine 
odour  is  constantly  exhaled  from  the  body  of 
their  god,  which  renders  it  peculiarly  delight- 
ful to  be  in  his  presence. 

They  also  say,  that  rivers  burst  from  the 
rocks,  and  flow  forth  at  his  command,  and  that 
flowers  spring  up,  and  bud  and  blossom  in  his 
footprints.  All  this  the  worshippers  of  the 
Grand  Lama  say,  and  doubtless  believe.  They 
believe,  too,  that  his  power  can  save  them  from 
misery  on  earth,  and  give  them  happiness 
hereafter. 

But  it  is  of  course  a  delusion.  We  who  are 
blessed  with  a  knowledge  of  the  true  religion, 
cannot  but  look  with  wonder  upon  the  super- 


48  PARLEY'S  TALES  OP  ASIA. 

stition  of  these  ignorant  Thibetians.  Let  us 
remember,  however,  that  for  our  superior  ad- 
vantages, we  are  indebted  to  that  Good  Being, 
who  has  ordered  all  things  well.  Let  us 
remember,  also,  that  much  will  be  required  of 
them  to  whom  much  is  given. 


CHAPTER  YIII. 

Some  account  of  Japan.     A  short  method  of  saying 

Prayers. 

I  AM  afraid  you  will  think  this  is  all  a  dull 
story.  But  consider  that  I  am  telling  you  of 
people  who  live  on  the  other  side  of  the  globe. 
We  are  apt  to  be  so  much  occupied  with  things 
around  us,  as  to  be  inattentive  to  what  is  going 
on  elsewhere. 

We  look  up,  and  see  the  skies  above  us ;  we 
look  abroad,  and  see  the  sun  shining  around 
us  ;  and  we  imagine,  that  we  are  on  the  very 
top  of  the  earth,  that  the  sun  rises  for  us,  that 


parley's    tales    of    ASIA.  49 

the  seasons, — spring,  summer,  autumn,  and 
winter,  come  and  go  only  for  our  benefit. 

But  this  is  not  so.  We  are  no  more  on  the 
top  of  it  than  the  Chinese,  the  Tartars,  or  the 
Thibetians.  The  sun  rises  on  them  as  well 
as  on  us.  The  skies  are  over  their  heads,  the 
moon  and  the  stars  shed  their  light  on  them  ; 
they,  as  well  as  we,  have  hopes  and  fears, 
joys  and  sorrows.  They  have  even  more  pop- 
ulous cities,  more  extensive  empires,  and  can 
boast  a  history  more  ancient,  and  more  re- 
nowned, than  our  own.  Is  it  not  interesting 
then ;  is  it  not  useful ;  is  it  not  necessary,  if  we 
would  be  wise,  to  study  the  character  of  other 
nations  ? 

You  will  undoubtedly  say,  yes.  I  shall 
therefore  proceed  to  tell  you  about  Japan.  1 
think  you  will  be  amused  with  the  account  1 
shall  give  you. 

Japan  consists  of  a  group  of  islands,  as  I 
have  before  said,  to  the  east  of  Asia.     The 

Where  is  Japan  1 


50  PARLEY  S    TALES    OF    ASIA. 

whole  of  these  islands  are  in  extent  about 
three  times  as  large  as  New  England,  yet  they 
have  a  population  about  double  that  of  the 
whole  of  the  United  States! 

The  country  is  full  of  mountains  and  hills, 
yet  these  are  everywhere  cultivated,  and  pre- 
sent the  most  beautiful  scenes.  In  skill  and 
industry,  these  people  seem  to  surpass  the 
Chinese. 

Tapan  is  very  subject  to  earthquakes.  The 
people  are  obliged  to  build  their  houses  low, 
to  prevent  their  being  shaken  down  by  these 
dreadful  convulsions  of  nature.  The  thunder 
and  lightning  are  terrible  in  this  country, 
during  the  summer. 

The  Japanese  are  a  very  cleanly  people. 
They  esteem  the  Europeans  a  dirty  race. 
They  are  also  very  polite  and  ceremonious. 

Itb'  extent'?         Its  population^ 

Whcit  of  the  country'? 

To  what  is  Japan  subject'? 

Why  do  tiie  people  build  their  houses  low  in  Japan'? 

What  can  you  tell  of  the  Japanese'? 


PARLEY  S     TALES     OF     ASIA.  51 

They  have  books  to  instruct  them  how  to  be- 
have, on  all  occasions.  These  books  even 
laj  down  rules  for  drinking  a  glass  of  water 
with  propriety. 

The  people  of  Japan,  in  their  personal  ap- 
])earance,  bear  a  strong  resemblance  to  the 
Chinese.  Their  religion,  also,  resembles  that 
of  China.  They  are  very  superstitious,  and 
believe  every  hill  and  mountain  to  be  the  seat 
of  some  divinity.  When  they  are  travelling, 
they  think  it  their  duty  to  say  a  great  many 
prayers  to  the  gods  of  the  several  places  which 
they  pass.  They  have  an  ingenious  contri- 
vance for  saving  time,  to  such  travellers  as  niay 
be  in  a  hurry. 

This  consists  of  a  machine,  formed  in  the 
following  manner.  A  post  is  set  upright  in 
the  ground,  in  the  top  of  which  an  iron  bar  is 
fixed,  so  as  to  turn  easily  round  with  a  stroke 
of  the  hand.     On  this  bar,  a  prayer  to  the  di- 


What  of  their  religion  1 

What  contrivance  have  the  Japanese  for  saying  prayers  1 


PARLEY  S    TALES    OF    ASIA.       '* 


JAPANESE  PRAYING  MACHINE. 


■  ^ 


52  parley's  tales  of  asia. 

vinity  of  the  place  is  engraved.  The  turning 
this  round  once,  is  deemed  equal  to  saying 
the  prayer  once. 

A  single  stroke  of  the  hand  being  sufficient 
to  turn  the  bar  round  several  times,  the  trav- 
eller may  offer  a  great  many  prayers  without 
being  much  delayed  on  his  journey.  This  is 
certainly  a  cheap  way  of  worshipping ;  I  think 
the  Japanese,  however,  cannot  suppose  their 
gods  to  be  very  wise,  else  they  would  not  im- 
agine that  they  would  suffer  such  tricks  to 
be    put  upon    them. 

Formerly  Europeans  were  admitted  into 
Japan,  and  the  Christian  religion  was  propa- 
gated, to  a  considerable  extent,  by  Portuguese 
missionaries;  but  the  government  of  Japan 
grew  jealous,  and  at  length  banished  all 
Europeans  from  the  kingdom.  A  dreadful 
persecution  then  commenced,  against  those 
Japanese  who  had  embraced  Christianity. 

The  most  cruel  tortures  were  inflicted  on 
them.     Roasting  alive  was  one  of  the  most 


parley's    tales    of   ASIA.  53 

merciful  punishments  granted  to  these  suffer- 
ers. Forty  thousand  people  perished  in  this 
horrible  persecution.  Europeans  are  still  ex- 
cluded from  Japan;  and  a  rock,  about  sixty 
rods  in  length,  occupied  by  the  Dutch  for  pur- 
poses of  trade,  is  the  only  spot  in  the  whole 
empire  where  foreigners  are  permitted  to 
live. 


CHAPTER  X. 

Parley  meets  with  an  Jldventure.      Tales  about  Tea. 

I  HAVE  now  given  you  a  short  account  of 
China,  and  the  tributary  countries  of  Tartary 
and  Thibet,  and  also  of  the  adjacent  empire  of 
Japan.  It  is  perhaps  time  for  me  to  return  to 
my  own  story,  and  tell  you  what  happened  to 
me  at  Canton. 

I  have  told  you  before,  that  the  Chinese 
will  not  allow  foreii2;ners  to  enter  their  walled 

What  place  is  there  in  Japan  where  foreigners  are  permitted  to  live  1 


54  parley's  tales  op  asia. 

cities  nor  travel  in  their  country.  This  I  knew 
very  well;  but  one  day,  I  was  passing  by  one 
of  the  gates  of  the  city  which  was  open,  no 
person  was  near  at  the  time.  I  saw  that  the 
gate  opened  into  a  long  street,  where  there 
was  a  crowd  of  people,  and  I  was  strongly 
tempted  to  pass  in.  I  therefore  walked  slowly 
along,  until  I  came  to  the  gate.  I  was  yet  un- 
observed, and  ventured  a  little  way  into  the 
street.  Meeting  with  no  obstruction,  I  pas- 
sed along,  and  had  gone  six  or  eight  rods  into 
the  city,  when  I  was  suddenly  arrested. 

A  Chinese  appeared  before  me,  and  in  a 
very  threatening  manner,  signified  to  me  that 
I  must  turn  about.  At  the  same  instant,  he 
uttered  a  loud  cry,  and  several  other  men 
came  running  toward  me. 

By  this  time,  I  thought  it  best  to  retreat, 
and  turning  round,  began  to  walk  toward  the 
gate;  but  one  of  the  men,  determining  to  pre- 
vent my  escape,  passed  rapidly  by  me,  and  pla- 
cing himself  between  me  and  the  gate,  faced 


parley's    tales    op    ASIA.  55 

me,  and  flourished  a  large  stick  (with  an  iron 
point  at  one  end,)  over  his  head. 

I  walked  resolutely  towards  him;  and  as  I 
came  near,  he  edged  out  of  my  way,  still  flour- 
ishing his  weapon,  and  uttering  loud  cries. 
After  I  passed  him,  I  walked  pretty  fast,  for  the 
crowd  of  people  thickened  behind  me,  and 
their  cries  now  filled  the  air.  I  got  clear  of 
them  however,  and  arrived  safe  at  my  lodgings. 
I  never  afterwards  attempted  to  enter  within 
the  walls  of  the  city  of  Canton. 

Fond  as  I  am  of  telling  good  stories,  partic- 
ularly those  that  relate  to  myself,  I  must  still 
confess,  that  this  is  the  only  adventure  I  had 
in  Canton.  I  remained  there  only  a  few 
weeks,  and  being  confined  to  that  portion  of 
the  city  which  is  occupied  by  Europeans,  I  had 
few  opportunities  for  gaining  information. 

What  I  have  told  you  about  China,  I  have 
gathered  from  other  travellers.  Christian  mis- 
sionaries were  once  admitted  into  this  country, 
who  had  pretty  good  opportunities  for  collec- 


56  parley's  tales  of  asia. 

ting  information.  They  are  now  excluded  by 
the  government;  but  they  have  given  us  many 
interesting  accounts  of  the  country  and  the 
people. 

'  The  king  of  England,  about  the  year  1793, 
sent  an  ambassador  to  the  Emperor  of  China. 
This  ambassador  whs  Lord  Macartney.  He 
went  to  Pekin,  and  was  graciously  received  by 
the  Emperor.  He  then  came  to  Canton,  and 
finally  returned  to  England.  The  story  of  this 
embassy  has  been  published  in  a  book. 

It  tells  us  many  interesting  things  about 
Pekin,  the  Emperor,  and  the  interior  of  China. 
One  thing  I  must  not  neglect  to  tell  you  about, 
and  that  is,  the  gathering  of  tea.  The  tea 
tree  grows  naturally  to  the  height  of  eight  or 
ten  feet,  but  the  people  cut  off  the  branches, 
and  reduce  it  to  the  size  of  a  small  bush.  It 
produces  a  pod  like  the  nasturtium,  w^hich  you 
know  is  sometimes  used  for  pickling. 

These  pods  are  bitter  and  useless.  The 
leaves   of  the   tree   are   the    valuable    part. 


parley's    tales    op    ASIA.  Ol 

These  are  picked  off,  usually  in  the  morning 
while  the  dew  is  upon  them,  they  are  then 
rolled  on  iron  plates,  and  dried  in  the  sun. 

The  best  kind  of  tea  is  carefully  rolled,  leaf 
by  leaf,  by  women.  After  the  tea  is  prepared, 
it  is  put  into  boxes  lined  with  thin  sheets  of 
lead,  and  trodden  down  with  the  naked  feet. 
Thus  packed,  it  is  carefully  and  closely  covered, 
and  sent  to  market. 

The  people  of  China  do  not  drink  their  tea 
as  we  do,  with  sugar  and  milk.  They  take 
it  without  these  accompaniments,  and  use  it 
rather  for  health  than  for  pleasure.  It  is  re- 
markable, that  this  plant  flourishes  in  no  other 
parts  of  the  world  than  China  and  Japan. 

It  grows  spontaneously  in  both  countries, 
yet  in  China  it  is  cultivated  to  an  immense  ex- 
tent. It  sometimes  grows  on  high  rocks  and 
ledges,  which  are  not  easily  accessible.  The 
ingenious  Chinese  have  monkeys,  which  they 


How  is  tea  prepared  for  market  by  the  Chinese  1 
In  what  countries  only  does  the  tea  plant  grow  1 


parley's    tales    of    ASIA. 


Mo:>iKEYS  gatiieki^ng  tea. 


58  PARLEY  S    TALES    OP    ASIA. 

teach  to  strip  the  tea  leaves  from  the  trees,  in 
such  situations. 

The  monkeys,  when  they  do  well,  are  sure 
to  receive  from  their  masters  something  to 
eat.  If  they  behave  ill,  they  are  equally  cer- 
tain of  being  beaten. 

Tea  was  first  brought  from  China  to  Eu- 
rope, about  200  years  ago.  Previous  to  that 
time,  it  was  not  known  in  Europe.  It  was 
many  years  after,  that  it  began  to  be  used  in 
New  England.  I  remember  very  well,  to 
have  heard  a  man  who  lived  in  the  interior  of  j^ 
Massachusetts,  give  an  account  of  the  first  tea^ 
he  ever  saw. 

His  father  had  received  a  small  quantity 
from  a  friend  in  Boston.  The  family  had 
heard  of  tea,  but  had  never  learned  the  mys- 
tery of  cooking  it.  In  the  first  place,  a  por- 
tion of  it  was  boiled  in  a  kettle,  and  then  they 
attempted  to  eat  the  leaves. 

These  they  found  very  bitter,  and  concluded 

When  was  tea  first  brought  to  Europe! 


iiit 


parley's    tales    of    ASIA.  59 

that  they  had  not  hit  upon  the  right  method 
of  cooking  it.  Then  thej  put  some  into  a 
pan,  and  fried  it.  This  answered  no  better 
purpose  than  boiling.  Several  other  expe- 
riments were  tried  but  without  success,  and 
the  tea  was  laid  aside  as  a  useless  article. 
This  happened  less  than  a  hundred  years  ago. 


CHAPTER  XI. 

Description  of  Malacca  and  the  Malays. 

I  HAD  now  been  about  five  weeks  in  Canton ; 
and  our  ship  being  loaded,  with  a  cargo  of  tea 
and  silk  goods,  we  set  out  on  our  return  to 
America.  We  descended  the  river  of  Canton, 
passed  Macao,  and  entered  the  China  sea. 
This  we  crossed,  and  passing  between  the 
Asiatic  islands,  we  were  soon  upon  the  Indian 
ocean. 

As  nothing  very  remarkable  happened  during 
our  voyage  to  America,  I  shall  take  advantage 


60  parley's  tales  op  asia. 

of  the  interval  between  this,  and  our  arrival, 
to  tell  you  of  some  other  countries  in  Asia, 
than  those  I  have  described. 

Malacca  is  the  most  southern  part  of  Asia. 
It  is  a  large  peninsula  which  projects  far  into 
the  sea. 

Sumatra,  an  island  as  large  as  the  six  New 
England  states,  lies  very  near  to  Malacca.  A 
narrow  branch  of  the  sea  passes  between  the 
two,  called  the  Straits  of  Malacca. 

The  inhabitants  of  Malacca  are  called  Ma- 
lays. They  are  a  very  peculiar  race  of  peo- 
ple. They  are  spread  over  most  of  the  islands 
in  the  Pacific  ocean.  They  are  in  general, 
fierce,  treacherous,  and  savage. 

Malacca  has  a  climate  of  perpetual  summer. 
The  trees  are  always  arrayed  in  green.  The 
ripe  fruit,  and  the  opening  blossom,  arc  suspen- 
ded from  the  same  branches,  but  the  woods  are 
filled  with  tigers  and  leopards,  which  make  it 
extremely  dangerous  to  travel  in  this  country. 

Describe  Malacca.     VVliat  of  the  Malays  1 
What  is  the  climate  ofMalaccal 


PARLEY'S    TALES    OF  ASIA.  61 

In  the  rivers  are  great  numbers  of  crocodiles. 
Sometimes  the  tigers  when  attempting  to  cross 
the  rivers  in  pursuit  of  antelopes,  are  caught, 
and  killed  bj  the  crocodiles.  Perhaps  it  was 
in  Malacca,  that  the  incident  I  related  in  the 
beginning  of  this  book,  happened. 

There  is  a  good  deal  of  gold  in  Malacca. 
It  is  w^ashed  down  from- the  mountains  in  small 
particles,  and  is  gathered  by  the  natives  in  the 
form  of  dust.  In  some  of  the  mountains  there 
is  a  great  deal  of  tin,  but  the  chiefs  who  rule 
over  the  Malays,  will  not  let  the  people  get  it. 
They  have  an  absurd  opinion  that  spirits  who 
inhabit  these  mountains  would  be  offended,  and 
do  mischief  to  the  country  if  the  tin  were  car- 
ried away. 

^'  *  ■  I     '^"l  ■  .■■  ■  I     -■■■  I       I..  ■  I  ■■  —  -  ..■■I. Ill  ■!■■ I  I 

What  metals  are  found  in  Malaccal 


62  parley's  tales  op  asia 


CHAPTER  XII. 

Account  of  Chin  India,  mid  the  Birman  Empire.     Grand 
procession.     Mr.  and  Mrs.  Judson. 

To  the  north  of  Malacca  is  a  country  which 
is  called  on  the  map  Chin  India.  It  is  some- 
times called  Farther  India.  It  embraces  seve- 
ral distinct  kingdoms.  These  are  the  Birman 
empire,  Tonquin,  Cochin  China,  Cambodia, 
Laos,  and  Siam.  The  inhabitants  of  these 
various  kingdoms,  bear  a  general  resemblance 
to  the  Chinese,  though  they  are  less  civilized. 

The  climate  is  very  w^arm,  and  produces 
many  aromatic  or  spicy  trees,  and  a  profusion 
of  beautiful  flowers.  The  cultivation  of  the 
land,  however,  is  generally  neglected. 

The  Birman  Empire,  is  by  far,  the  largest 
and  most  powerful  of  the  kingdoms  of  Farther 


What  kingdoms  in  Chin  India'? 
Des(  ribe  the  climate  and  country. 
Which  the  largest  kingdom  in  Chin  Indial 


■^:: 


parley's    tales     of    ASIA.  63 

India.  It  was  in  this  country  that  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Judson,  of  whom  jou  have  perhaps  heard,  met 
very  extraordinary  adventures,  a  few  years  ago. 
They  were  American  missionaries  sent  to  teach 
the  truths  of  Christianity  to  the  Birmese. 

The  people  of  this  country  are  idolaters 
and  worship  images :  they  are  also  very  super- 
stitious. Now,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Judson  were 
sent  to  instruct  the  people  in  the  true  religion 
of  Jesus  Christ.  It  was  but  six  or  seven  vears 
ago  that  they  were  at  Ava,  which  is  the  capi- 
tal of  the  Birman  Empire. 

It  is  a  great  city,  with  multitudes  of  people 
in  it.  The  Emperor's  palace,  there,  is  truly  a 
splendid  edifice.  While  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Judson 
were  at  Ava,  the  Emperor  and  his  family 
came  to  reside  at  this  palace.  They  were  at- 
tended by  an  immense  procession  of  officers 
and  soldiers,  viceroys  dressed  in  their  robes  of 
state,  horses  and  carriages  of  all  descriptions, 

What  can  you  say  of  the  Birmese'? 
What  of  Ava  7 


64  PARLEY  S    TALES     OF    ASIA. 

hundreds  of  elephants  with  people  riding  upon 
them,  and  crowds  of  men  women  and  children. 
Among  the  rest  Was  a  beautiful  white  ele- 
phant, splendidly  decorated  with  costly  orna- 
ments, and  attended  by  persons  in  rich  attire. 
This  elephant  was  an  object  of  great  respect, 
and  the  people  fell  upon  their  faces,  and  reve- 
renced it  as  it  passed  along.  On  this  occasion 
Mrs.  Judson  had  a  seat  in  a  beautiful  garden. 
Here  the  king  and  queen  came,  and  they  had 
all  a  rich  banquet.  It  was  truly  a  brilliant 
spectacle,  and  far  surpassed  everything  of  the 
kind,  the  Missionaries  had  ever  seen  before. 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

Sto7^  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Judson. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Judson  had  been  sometime  at 
Ava,  when  news  came,  that  some  British  sol- 
diers had  come  to  Rangoon,  and  taken  that 
place.     Ran£:oon  is  a  large  town  belonging  to 


parley's    tales    of   ASIA.  65 

the  Birman  Empire,  near  the  place  where  the 
Irrawaddy  empties  into  the  Bay  of  Bengal. 

You  must  understand  that  the  British  at 
Hindoostan  have  large  possessions.  This 
country  lies  directly  west  of  the  Birman  Em- 
pire, as  you  will  see  on  the  map.  Now  the 
British  at  Hindoostan  were  at  war  with  the 
Birmese,  and  their  troops  had  come  to  fight 
against  the  country. 

The  Emperor  of  Bnrmah,  as  soon  as  he 
heard  that  the  British  troops  had  captured 
Rangoon,  became  very  jealous  of  Mr.  Judson. 
He  suspected  that  this  missionary  was  the 
secret  friend  and  agent  of  the  English. 

So  one  day,  just  before  dinner,  an  officer 
with  a  dozen  Birmese,  rushed  into  Mr.  Jud- 
son's  house.  They  were  accompanied  by  a 
man  with  a  spotted  face,  whose  business  it 
was,  to  torture  or  kill,  such  persons  as  were 
condemned  by  the  government. 

Mr.  Judson  was  immediately  seized,  thrown 

Where  is  Rangoon  1 


66  parley's  tales  of  asia. 

upon  the  floor,  and  strongly  bound  with  a  cord. 
He  was  then  dragged  away,  and  treated  in  the 
most  cruel  manner.  While  they  were  taking 
him  along,  he  was  thrown  forcibly  upon  the 
ground,  and  the  cords  around  his  body  were 
drawn  so  tight,  that  he  could  scarcely  breathe. 
He  was  then  taken  to  the  death  prison,  and 
the  door  closed  upon  him. 

An  officer  was  afterwards  sent  to  Mrs.  Jud- 
son's  house.  He  asked  her  a  great  many  ques- 
tions, and  then  went  away.  He  placed  a  guard 
of  ten  men  around  the  house,  forbidding  any 
one  to  enter.  Mrs.  Judson  now  took  the  chil- 
dren into  an  inner  room,  and  barred  the  door. 

But  the  men  without,  threatened  with  vio- 
lent language,  to  break  it  down,  if  she  did  not 
unbar  the  door.  This  she  refused  to  do. 
They  then  took  tw^o  of  her  servants,  and 
treated  them  in  a  very  rough  manner.  At 
length  she  pacified  them,  by  promising  to 
give  them  presents  in  the  morning. 

The  next  morning  Mrs.  Judson  learned  the 


PARLEY  S    TALES    OF    ASIA.  67 

situation  of  her  husband.  He  was  in  the  death 
prison,  and  loaded  with  chains.  She  went  to 
the  governor,  and  obtained  permission  to  see 
him.  She  saw  him  lying  on  the  floor,  in  a 
dark  and  gloomy  place. 

Mr.  Judson  could  not  walk,  on  account  of 
his  chains,  but  he  crept  toward  his  wife,  and 
gave  her  some  directions  how  to  proceed  in 
endeavouring  to  obtain  his  release.  She  was 
allowed  to  stay  but  a  few  moments,  for  the 
rude  keepers  of  the  prison  hurried  her  away. 

She  now  went  to  a  relation  of  the  queen, 
and  begged  her  to  petition  the  queen  to  inter- 
cede with  the  king,  for  the  release  of  her  hus- 
band. The  lady  was  affected  by  Mrs.  Judson's 
entreaties,  and  promised  to  do  as  she  desired. 
The  next  day  Mrs.  Judson  went  to  know  the 
result,  and  learned  that  the  queen  refused  to  do 
anything  about  it. 

Mrs.  Judson  returned  to  her  house.  Pretty 
soon,  officers  of  the  government  came  and  took 
away  what  "money,  and  other  valuable  articles, 


68  PARLEY  S    TALES    OP    ASIA. 

thej  could  find  in  the  house.  Then,  months  pas- 
sed away,  and  Mr.  Judson  continued  in  prison. 
He  was  shut  up  with  one  hundred  other  persons. 

It  was  now  summer,  and  the  summer  at  Ava 
is  excessively  hot.  The  poor  prisoners  suffer- 
ed great  distress  from  the  heat,  the  want  of 
fresh  air,  and  the  weight  of  their  chains.  Mrs. 
Judson  failed  not  to  exert  herself  for  the  relief, 
not  only  of  her  husband,  but  of  the  other 
prisoners. 

She  went  to  one  officer,  and  another,  and 
another,  and  begged,  besought,  and  prayed,  but 
it  was  all  in  vain.  At  length  she  was  taken 
sick,  and  confined  to  her  house  several  months. 
During  this  period,  the  sufferings  of  the  pris- 
oners were  increased,  and  Mr.  Judson  at  last 
sent  her  word  that  they  were  all  shut  up  in  an 
inner  prison,  and  loaded  with  five  pair  of  chains 
each. 

After  awhile,  Mrs.  Judson  was  able  to  go 
out.  She  then  went  to  the  governor,  and 
begged  him  to  permit  her  husband,  at  least,  to 


PaRLEY^S    tales    of    ASIA.  69 

be  placed  in  a  more  comfortable  situation. 
But  this  was  refused.  He  was  soon  after  taken 
with  a  fever.  Then  again  she  went  to  the 
governor.  Worn  out  with  her  entreaties,  he 
permitted  Mr.  Judson  to  be  taken  to  another 
part  of  the  prison. 

He  was  placed  in  a  little  hovel  made  of 
bamboos.  Here  his  wife  was  allowed  to  come 
and  take  care  of  him,  and  though  he  was  very 
sick,  these  seemed  to  them  happy  moments. 
Mrs.  Judson  was  one  day  with  Mr.  Judson, 
when  the  governor  sent  for  her  in  great  haste. 
She  was  very  much  alarmed,  but  did  not  hesi- 
tate to  go. 

When  she  arrived  at  his  house,  he  detained 
her  awhile,  under  some  trifling  pretence. 
While  she  was  there,  all  the  prisoners  were 
carried  away,  and  Mr.  Judson  among  them. 
Mrs.  Judson  could  not  learn  at  first  the  cause 
of  their  removal,  nor  where  they  were  taken 
to,  but  she  expected  tha^t  they  were  gone  to 
be  executed. 


70  parley's  tales   of  asia. 

Her  distress  was  now  indescribable.  She 
went  to  her  house,  never  expecting  to  see  her 
husband  more.  A  stranger  in  a  strange  land, 
surrounded  by  a  cruel  people,  a  woman  with- 
out protection,  or  defence,  with  an  infant  three 
months  old,  her  situation  was  truly  desolate. 
Yet  she  drew  consolation  from  her  religion  in 
this  hour  of  sorrow,  and  received  strength 
from  that  unseen  Friend  of  the  distressed,  to 
whom  she  appealed  for  help. 

The  next  day  she  discovered  that  her  hus- 
band was  still  living,  and  that  he,  and  the  other 
prisoners  had  been  taken  to  a  town  at  a  con- 
siderable distance.  She  determined  to  follow 
them.  So  taking  her  little  infant  with  her, 
she  proceeded  a  part  of  the  way  in  a  boat,  and 
a  part  of  the  w^ay  in  a  cart.  At  length  she 
reached  the  place,  and  found  her  husband 
among  the  other  prisoners. 

They  were  all  tied  two  and  two,  and  had 
suffered  the  most  cruel  treatment  on  the  jour- 
ney.     It  was  now  night,  and    Mrs.  Judson 


parley's  tales  of  asiv 


MRS.  JUDSON  GOING  DOWN  THE  RIVER  IN  A  BOAT. 


found  great  difficulty  in  procuring  shelter.  At 
length  the  jailer  permitted  her  to  occupy  a  lit- 
tle miserable  room  in  his  house. 

Mrs.  Judson's  personal  sufferings  were  now 
greatly  increased.  She  had  under  her  care, 
two  Birmese  children,  whose  parents  had  given 
them  to  her.  One  of  these  children  was  soon 
taken  with  the  small  pox.  Mr.  Judson's  feet 
were  also  so  much  torn,  and  blistered  by 
the  journey  from  Ava,  that  he  could  neither 
stand  nor  walk. 

The  other  Birmese  child  was  soon  after 
taken  with  the  small  pox,  and  then  her  infant 
was  taken  also.  At  lenjith,  worn  out  with 
fatigue,  care,  and  anxiety,  Mrs.  Judson  her- 
self fell  sick.  Still,  in  this  situation,  she 
determined  to  go  to  Ava,  and  get  some  medi- 
cines which  she  had  there. 

Accordingly  she  performed  the  journey,  and 
in  a  few  days,  returned.  But  when  she  ar- 
rived at  her  miserable  home,  she  was  so  much 
exhausted,  that  she  could  not  stand.     She  had 


72  parley's  tales  of  asia. 

a  faithful  Hindoo  servant,  who  came  to  the 
door  to  receive  her.  She  was  so  pale  and  was- 
ted, that  the  kind  hearted  Hindoo  burst  into 
tears. 

Mrs.  Judson  was  incapable  of  farther  exer- 
tion. She  lay  down  upon  the  mat,  for  she 
had  no  bed,  and  here  for  two  months  she  re- 
mained. She  had  no  food  for  her  infant,  and 
there  was  no  milk  to  be  obtained  for  it  in  the 
village. 

It  now  seemed  that  the  poor  babe  must  die 
for  want  of  food.  But  at  length  the  jailer 
permitted  Mr.  Judson  to  leave  his  prison,  for 
a  little  while  at  a  time.  So  he  carried  the 
child  to  such  women  in  the  village  as  had  chil- 
dren, and  who  would  permit  the  little  starving 
creature  to  take  a  part  of  the  nourishment  de- 
signed for  their  offspring. 

Having  been  at  this  place  a  prisoner  for  six 
months,  Mr.  Judson  was  at  length  released. 
He  was  sent  by  the  Birman  government,  to  a 
considerable  distance,  for  the  purpose  of  trans- 


PARLEY  S    TAtfiS    OP    ASIA.  73 

lating  some  papers,  while  Mrs.  Judson  returned 
to  her  house  at  Ava. 

Here  she  was  seized,  in  the  absence  of  her 
husband,  with  the  spotted  fever,  and  brought 
so  low^,  that  the  people  around  her  thought  she 
was  dead.  But  as  if  by  miracle,  she  revived. 
At  length  her  husband  returned,  and  being  set 
at  liberty,  he  was  then  united  to  his  familj. 

The  British  soldiers  who  had  captured  Ran- 
goon, as  I  have  told  jou,  prosecuted  their 
march  towards  the  Burmese  capital.  They 
were  repeatedly  attacked,  but  the  superiority 
of  the  British,  over  the  Burmese  troops,  ena- 
bled the  former,  constantly  to  triumph  over 
their  enemies. 

At  length  the  British  troops  approached  the 
capital.  The  people  were  in  the  greatest 
consternation.  The  emperor,  who  had  proud- 
ly refused  to  make  peace  with  the  English, 
now  sent  for  Mr.  Judson.  Through  his  influ- 
ence, and  that  of  some  other  individuals,  peace 
was  finally  concluded,  and  the  British  army 
took  their  departure. 


74  PARLEY  R     TALES     OF     ASIA. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Judsoii  also  left  Ava  and  pro- 
ceeded to  Rangoon.  In  the  neighbourhood 
of  this  place  they  prepared  to  prosecute  their 
grand  design,  of  introducing  Christianity 
among  the  ignorant,  and  superstitious  inhabi- 
tants of  Farther  India. 

But  Mrs.  Judson's  health  was  impaired  by 
her  sufferings  beyond  the  recovery  of  medi- 
cine. While  her  husband  was  absent  on  a 
journey  of  three  or  four  months,  she  was 
seized  with  a  fever.  Her  enfeebled  constitu- 
tion could  not  withstand  this  shock,  and  she 
died  at  Amherst,  near  Rangoon,  on  the  26th 
of  October  1826. 

She  has  left  behind  her  a  name,  that  can 
never  perish.  I  have  never  known  a  more 
beautiful  example,  of  piety,  tenderness,  and 
fidelity,  blended  with  true  courage,  than  is 
afforded  by  the  life  of  this  admirable  woman. 


PARLEY'S    TALES    OP   ASIA.  75 

CHAPTPJR  XIV. 

Parley  tells  about  Hindoostanj  the  Hindoos  and  a  Hurri- 
cane. 

I  SHALL  now  tell  you  of  a  people,  who  may 
be  regarded  as  the  most  interesting  of  all  the 
inhabitants  of  Asia,  I  mean  the  Hindoos. 
They  live  in  Hindoostan,  and  are  unlike  any 
other  people.  The  inhabitants  of  Chin  India, 
with  the  exception  of  the  Malays,  including 
the  Chinese,  the  Japanese,  the  Tartars,  and 
Thibetians,  have  all  a  general  resemblance  to 
each  other,  and  are  supposed  to  have  sprung 
from  the  same  origin. 

But  the  Hindoos,  in  personal  appearance,  in 
disposition,  in  character,  and  in  religion  are  a 
distinct  and  peculiar  nation.  Their  number  is 
tmly  immense.  I  suppose  there  are  more  than 
ten  times  as  many  people  in  Hindoostan,  as 
in  all  the  United  States. 


What  nations  in  Asia,  are  supposed  to  be  of  the  same  origin  1 
What  is  the  number  of  iniiabitants  in  Hindoostanl 


76  PARLEY'S    TALES    OF    ASIA. 

In  Hindoostan,  only  two  seasons  are  known, 
the  wet  and  the  dry.  Durmg  the  wet  or  rainy 
season,  great  quantities  of  rain  fall,  the  rivers 
suddenly  rise  and  overflow  their  banks,  and 
often  sweep  off  the  inhabitants  with  their 
houses.  During  the  dry  season,  the  earth  is 
frequently  so  parched,  that  every  leaf,  and 
flower  is  withered  to  the  ground. 

Sometimes  dreadful  famines  take  place  for 
the  want  of  rain.  In  1793,  there  was  a  great 
famine  in  consequence  of  drought ;  some  of 
the  people  were  so  distressed  for  food,  that 
they  sold  their  children  for  a  few  pounds  of  rice. 

They  have  never  any  cold  weather  in  this 
country.  In  a  great  part  of  it,  they  have  never 
either  snow  or  ice.  In  such  w^arm  countries, 
the  people  are  not  obliged  to  have  thick  woollen 
clothes.  The  Hindoos  wear  but  little  clothing, 
and  this  is  made  of  cotton  or  silk.  Their 
houses  are  not  large  and  strong  like  ours,  but 


What  of  the  seasons  in  Hindoostan T 
Describe  the  dress  of  the  Hindoos. 


parley's    tales    of    ASIA.  77 

they  are  little  slender  cabins,  made  of  sticks  of 
bamboo,  roofed  with  the  large  leaves  of  the 
palm  tree. 

Hindoostan  is  subject  to  violent  hurricanes 
with  dreadful  thunder  and  lightning.  1  sup- 
pose you  have  never  witnessed  a  whirlwind. 
I  will  describe  one  to  you.  We  will  suppose 
it  to  be  summer.  All  around  is  still  and  tran- 
quil. The  birds  are  quietly  reposing  amid  the 
thick  branches  of  the  trees.  The  cattle  lie 
stretched  at  length,  sleeping  in  thoughtless  se- 
curity in  the  shade.  The  sun  shines  brightly 
over  the  landscape,  and  all  nature  bespeaks 
peace  and  repose. 

But  soon  a  small  cloud  is  seen  in  the  dis- 
tance. It  increases  in  size,  and  stretches  far 
across  the  sky.  It  rapidly  approaches ;  a  rush- 
ing sound  is  heard  on  the  distant  hills.  The 
cloud  seems  in  great  agitation.  It  moves  on- 
ward whirling  and  boiling  like  the  waters  be- 
neath a  cataract. 


The  houses.     Can  you  describe  a  hurrlcanel 


78  PAULEY  S    TALES    OF    ASIA. 

The  trees  bow  their  heads  before  it.  The 
grass  and  the  grain,  and  all  the  slender  plants 
are  laid  flat  upon  the  ground.  The  houses 
tremble  ;  the  very  hills  are  shaken.  The  sky  is 
almost  as  black  as  night.  A  dreadful  roar  fills 
the  ear,  and  fragments  of  wood,  trees,  and 
houses,  lifted  on  the  wind,  are  borne  along 
through  the  air. 

The  crash  of  falling  trees,  the  rending  of 
houses  in  pieces,  the  tumbling  of  rocks  down 
the  sides  of  hills,  the  bellowing  of  cattle,  the 
cries  of  people  in  distress,  with  the  voice  of 
the  tempest,  are  borne  on  the  gale. 

Suddenly  the  hurricane  ceases.  Stillness 
succeeds  to  the  dreadful  uproar.  The  cloud 
is  seen  hurrying  away  over  the  hills,  carrying 
with  it  the  same  destruction  it  has  left  behind. 
The  inhabitants  come  forth,  and  witness  the 
ruin  that  is  spread  around  them.  Many  of 
their  dwellings  are  prostrate,  their  crops  cut 
off,  their  cattle  killed. 

Such  is  a  hurricane.     We  have  very  seldom 


parley's    tales    of    ASIA. 


A  MAN  CARRYING  OFF  YOUNG  TJGERS. 


^t^^jM  parley's    tales    of    ASIA.  79 

a  hurricane  in  our  country,  but  they  are  very 
common  in  hot  climates.  In  the  West  Indies 
they  occur  every  year,  and  in  Hindoostan  they 
are  very  frequent. 


CHAPTER   XV. 

About  Elephants,   Tigers,  Rhinoceroses  and  Serpents. 

In  Hindoostan,  there  are  a  great  many  wild 
animals.  Among  them  are  the  elephant,  ti- 
ger, and  rhinoceros.  Some  of  the  elephants 
are  caught  vi^hen  young,  and  tamed.  They 
then  become  very  gentle,  and  are  useful  in 
carrying  burdens,  and  for  taking  people  from 
one  place  to  another,  on  their  backs. 

The  tiger  of  this  country  is  called  the  royal 
tiger.  It  is  the  largest  and  most  powerful  of 
the  kind.    It  is  a  match  for  the  lion  in  strength, 


What  of  hurricanes  in  hot  climates'? 

In  the  West  Indies'? 

In  Hindoostan'? 

What  wild  animals  are  common  in  Hindoostanl 


80  parley's    tales    of   ASIA. 

and  is  much  more  ferocious  and  active.  The 
tigers  are  often  hunted  by  the  Hindoos,  but  it 
is  dangerous  sport. 

Tigers  are  sometimes  brought  to  this  coun- 
try for  shows.  They  are  taken  when  young, 
in  the  following  manner.  A  hunter  discovers 
a  den  where  there  are  young  tigers,  and  waits 
till  the  mother  is  gone.  He  then  goes  to  the 
den,  and  takes  away  the  little  tigers,  of  which 
there  are  generally  three  or  four. 

They  are  beautiful  little  animals,  as  soft  as 
kittens.  Pretty  soon  the  old  tigress  comes 
back,  and  discovers  that  her  young  ones  are 
gone.  She  smells  the  track  of  the  hunter,  and 
follows  him  swiftly,  her  mouth  open,  her  eyes 
flashing,  and  her  claws  ready  and  eager  to  tear 
in  pieces,  the  man  who  has  robbed  her  of  her 
little  ones. 

The  hunter,  knowing  that  he  will  be  pursued, 
flies  rapidly  through  the  thicket.  Soon  he 
hears  the  bounding  tigress  behind  him.     He 

How  are  the  tigers  usually  taken  tliat  are  brought  to  this  countiy  for  shows'! 


parley's    tales    op    ASIA.  <J1 

ooks  back,  and  sees  her  coming.  He  now 
arops  one  of  the  young  ones,  and  continues 
fiis  flight. 

The  tigress  soon  discovers  her  young  one, 
?akes  it  up  in  her  mouth,  and  hurries  back 
with  it.  Having  deposited  it  in  some  safe 
place,  she  again  pursues  the  hunter.  He  soon 
sees  her  coming  again,  and  drops  another  of 
the  young  tigers. 

This  is  taken  up,  and  carried  to  the  spot 
where  the  other  is  placed.  Before  the  tigress 
can  again  approach  the  hunter,  he  has  probably 
arrived  at  some  village,  or  reached  a  boat,  or, 
in  some  other  way,  placed  himself  out  of  dan- 
ger ;  thus  having  secured  one  or  more  of  the 
little  tigers. 

The  rhinoceros  is  almost  as  large  as  the  el- 
ephant, and  seems  in  many  respects  to  resem- 
ble a  hog.  A  young  rhinoceros  was  brought 
to  Boston  a  short  time  ago.  A  great  many 
people  went  to  see  him,  and  perhaps  you  saw 
him  also. 


82  parley's  tales  op  asia. 

His  skin  is  thick  and  rough,  and  seems  a 
good  deal  too  large  for  him.  There  are  folds 
in  it,  across  his  shoulders  and  back,  and  around 
his  legs,  which  have  a  very  singular  appearance. 
It  is  said  that  a  bullet  v^ill  not  penetrate  the 
skin  of  one  of  these  animals  of  mature  age, 
t  is  very  pleasant  to  see  such  creatures  when 
they  are  put  in  a  cage,  or  fastened  with  a  chain, 
but  I  think  it  would  not  be  agreeable  to  meet 
such  huge  animals  in  the  fields  and  forests. 

I  must  not  forget  to  tell  you,  that  in 
Hindoostan  there  are  great  numbers  of  ser- 
pents, some  of  which  are  very  large,  and  some 
very  poisonous.  There  are  such  numbers  of 
them,  that  they  breed  in  the  very  towns;  and 
Bishop  Heber,  who  has  written  a  very  interes- 
ting book  about  Hindoostan,  says,  that  they 
sometimes  come  into  the  houses,  and  are  found 
even  in  the  sleeping  apartments. 


PARLEY  S   TALES   OP    ASIA  83 

CHAPTER  XVI. 

Religion  of  the  Hindoos. 

The  religion  of  the  Hindoos  is  very  curious. 
By  this,  the  people  are  divided  into  four  clas- 
ses, or  castes.  The  first  class  are  called  bra- 
mins.  They  are  generally  priests,  and  have 
the  charge  of  religious  matters.  The  second 
class  are  the  soldiers.  The  third  class  are  the 
husbandmen  and  merchants.  The  fourth 
class  are  common  laborers  in  various  employ- 
ments. 

Now,  the  people  of  these  four  different  clas- 
ses never  marry  with  each  other.  They  do 
not  live,  nor  eat  together.  The  three  und^r 
castes  are  obliged  to  pay  the  most  profound 
respect  to  the  bramins.  The  people  of  the 
fourth  caste  are  required  to  serve  the  bra- 
mins without  pay,  and  prostrate  themselves 
before  them  whenever  they  meet. 

What  are  the  four  castes  into  which  the  Hindoos  are  divided*! 


84  parley's   tales  op  asia. 

A.  man  who  had  been  to  Calcutta,  which  is 
a  great  town  in  Hindoostan,  once  told  me, 
that,  while  there,  he  knew  a  little  fellow  who 
was  clerk  in  some  store.  He  was,  however, 
a  bramin.  Near  by,  there  was  a  very  rich 
Hindoo  merchant,  who  belonged  to  one  of  the 
under  castes.  Very  often  these  two  met  each 
other,  and  on  all  occasions,  the  rich  old  Hin- 
doo merchant  was  obliged  to  make  the  most 
profound  reverence,  to  the  little  bramin. 

The  Hindoos  have  a  great  many  idols,  and 
worship  a  great  many  different  gods.  Some 
of  these  they  imagine  to  be  good,  and  some 
evil  beings.  They  have  a  great  many  temples, 
and  spend  a  great  deal  of  time  in  the  various 
services  of  religion.  Yet  it  is  remarkable,  that 
the  tendency  of  their  devotion  is  not  to  make 
them  virtuous. 

The  religion  of  Jesus  Christ  teaches  men 
to  do  to  others,  as  they  would  have  others  do 
to  them.     It  teaches  them  to  love  truth,  to 

What  can  yousavof  the  religion  of  the  HindoosT 


PARLEY'S    TALES     OF    ASIA,  85 

practise  charity,  and  do  good  to  all  mankind. 
It  teaches  them  to  avoid  lying,  cruelty,  injus- 
tice, and  bearing  false  witness  against  a  neigh- 
bour. All  these  things  are  earnestly  taught  by 
the  Bible. 

But  the  religion  of  the  Hindoos  teaches  not 
these  things.  It  tells  them  if  they  will  prac- 
tise certain  ceremonies,  drown  their  children 
in  the  .rivers,  allow  themselves  to  be  buried 
alive  in  the  earth,  tear  their  bodies  with  hooks, 
cut  their  flesh  with  knives,  and  other  things 
like  these,  that  their  gods  will  then  look  upon 
them  with  favor. 

How  much  happier  are  we,  who  possess  the 
true  gospel,  than  these  Hindoos,  whose  minds 
are  darkened  by  a  false  religion.  It  is  impos- 
sible for  any  kind  hearted  person  to  consider 
the  state  of  these  Hindoos,  without  wishing  that 
they  might  be  blessed  with  a  knowledge  of  the 
Bible.  They  are  naturally  an  amiable  and  in- 
teresting people,  but  have  the  misfortune  to  be 
subject  to  the  worst  of  all  heathen  superstitions. 


86  parley's  tales  of  asia. 

A  great  many  missionaries  have  been  sent 
to  them,  who  have  endeavoured  to  make  them 
acquainted  with  the  Bible.  Their  success  has 
not  been  so  great  as  we  could  have  wished, 
but  we  may  still  hope,  that  this  part  of  the  hu- 
man family,  may  yet  become  acquainted  with 
that  salvation,  which  is  brought  to  light  by  the 
gospel. 

One  thing  is  certain,  our  religion  is  the  best 
gift  which  God  has  imparted  to  man,  and  the 
diffusion  of  it  among  ignorant  nations,  is  one 
of  the  highest  and  noblest  enterprises,  to  which 
a  man  can  devote  himself. 

I  have  told  you  that  the  British  have  large 
possessions  in  Hindoostan.  Calcutta  is  a  very 
large  town,  where  a  great  many  English  peo- 
ple live,  and  where  many  of  the  houses  are 
built  after  the  European  fashion. 

A  great  many  vessels  are  constantly  passing 
and  repassing,  between  England  and  Calcutta. 
Many  vessels  go  from  this  country  to  trade  at 
that  place.     The^p  vessels  ^    ng  from  thence, 


parley's    tales    of  ASIA.  87 

silk  and  cotton  goods,  Cashmere  shawls,  spices, 
gums,  and  many  other  things. 

The  British  have  a  great  many  soldiers  in 
India.  They  have  conquered  certain  parts  of 
India,  and  hold  the  people  subject  to  them. 
They  have  also  contrived  to  make  many  of  the 
chiefs  or  princes,  who  rule  over  the  people  in  va- 
rious parts  of  Hindoostan,  dependent  upon  them. 

They  receive  a  great  deal  of  money  from 
these  princes.  They  have  in  fact  the  almost 
entire  dominion  of  the  whole  of  Hindoostan, 
and  since  the  war  in  the  Birman  Empire, 
which  I  told  you  of,  they  have  great  power  in 
that  kingdom  also. 


CHAPTER  XVII. 

Parley  returns  to  America.  A  Waterspout.   James  Jenkins. 

I  BELIEVE  it  is  now  time  for  me  to  finish  my 
story,  of  my  homeward  voyage  from   China. 

What  have  the  British  done  in  India  *? 


88  parley's  tales  of  asia. 

We  sailed  across  the  Indian  ocean,  doubled 
the  Cape  of  Good  Hope,  and  entered  the 
Atlantic.  We  stopped  at  St.  Helena  a  short 
time,  to  take  in  water.  It  was  at  this 
place  that  Napoleon  Buonaparte,  some  years 
after,  was  imprisoned.  Here  he  died  in  1821, 
and  on  this  lonely  island  of  rocks  he  remains 
buried. 

When  we  were  in  the  latitude  of  the  West 
Indies,  we  saw  a  waterspout.  This  was  tru- 
ly a  sublime  spectacle.  It  appeared  like  a 
thick  cloud  in  the  air.  This  was  greatly  agi- 
tated. The  sea  beneath  it  was  also  in  violent 
commotion,  and  an  immense  column  of  water, 
whirling  and  foaming,  seemed  to  be  drawn  up 
from  the  sea  to  the  clouds. 

Our  Captain  was  afraid  that  we  should  be- 
come involved  in  this  waterspout,  and  that 
when  it  burst  it  would  fall  upon  our  ship,  and 
sink  it  in  the  sea.    But  this  misfortune  did  not 


Where  is   Buonaparte  buried'? 
Describe  the  waterspout  that  Parley  saw- 


parley's   tales    of    ASIA.  89 

happen  to  us ;  it  soon  disappeared,  we  sailed 
on  our  voyage  and  in  a  short  time  arrived  at 
Boston. 

I  had  been  absent  from  home  several  years. 
I  hardly  need  tell  you  of  the  joy  I  felt  on  land- 
ing, and  finding  all  my  friends  well.  Again 
I  returned  thanks  to  my  kind  Protector,  for 
preserving  me  through  so  many  dangers,  and 
for  a  happy  restoration  to  my  home,  and  my 
country. 

There  was  one  thing  that  in  some  measure 
abated  the  joy  of  my  return.  This  related  to 
my  friend  James  Jenkins.  I  have  told  you 
about  him,  in  my  tales  of  America  and  Europe. 
He  sailed  for  India  about  the  time  I  sailed 
to  the  Mediterranean  sea.  He  was  mate  of 
the  vessel,  and  was  bound  to  Bombay,  a  town 
situated  on  the  western  shore  of  Hindoostan. 

A  rumor  had  been  brought  by  a  vessel,  that 
his  ship  was  lost  in  the  Arabian  sea  in  a 
storm,  and  that  all  on  board  had  perished. 

Where  is  Bonabwy  1 


90  PARLEY  S     TALES     OF     ASIA. 

Nearly  three  years  had  elapsed,  and  nothing 
had  been  heard  of  the  ship.  The  general  be- 
lief was,  that  the  vessel  had  sunk,  and  that  all 
on  board  had  perished.  Their  friends  consid- 
ered them  as  buried  in  the  sea.  I  was  reluc- 
tantly compelled  to  believe,  that  my  honest 
and  excellent  friend  Jenkins,  was  sleeping  in 
a  watery  grave. 

A  few  weeks  after  my  return,  I  sat  by  my 
fireside.  It  was  in  December,  and  a  snow 
storm  from  the  northeast,  had  just  set  in.  I 
was  musing  upon  some  of  the  past  events  of 
my  life,  and  particularly  upon  those  in  which 
Jenkins  had  participated.  I  thought  of  the 
battle  of  Bunker  Hill,  in  which  we  fought 
side  by  side.  I  remembered  my  adventures 
among  the  western  Indians,  which  were  so  inti- 
mately connected  with  his  own.  I  recollect- 
ed our  companionship  in  Europe,  and  recalled 
many  other  circumstances  which  had  made 
him  interesting  to  me. 

I  was  thus  dwelling  upon  his  memory,  and 


parley's    tales    of    ASIA.  91 

bringing  back  to  my  imagination,  his  harsh, 
but  honest  features,  when  I  heard  some  one 
rapping  at  the  door.  I  bid  the  person  come  in, 
the  door  was  opened,  and  a  large  man,  covered 
with  snow,  entered.  He  had  on  a  sailor's 
hat,  and  a  pea  jacket,  which  is  a  sailor's  great 
coat.  He  first  stamped  on  the  floor  to  knock 
off  the  snow,  then  shook  his  shaggy  coat,  took 
off  his  hat,  and  came  up  to  me. 

He  had  the  features  of  Jenkins,  but  could 
it  be  he  ?  I  thought,  at  first,  it  must  be  a 
dream,  but  when  I  heard  his  hearty  voice,  and 
felt  the  clench  of  his  hard  hand,  I  knew  him 
to  be  the  real  James  Jenkins ! 


CHAPTER  XVIII. 

Adventures  of  James  Jenkins. 

You  will  easily  believe  that  our  meeting  was 
a  joyous  one.  We  sat  down  together,  and 
Jenkins  in  a  few  words  told  me  his  adventures. 


92  parley's  tales  of  asia. 

He  afterwards  related  them  to  me  more  mi- 
nutely, and  I  will  now  give  you  some  account 
of  them. 

He  had  nearly  completed  his  voyage,  and 
was  within  a  few  days'  sail  of  Bombay,  when 
his  vessel  was  struck  with  a  sudden  squall. 
The  sails  were  all  set,  and  such  was  the  pro- 
digious force  of  the  wind,  that  the  vessel  was 
instantly  capsized,  that  is,  thrown  over  on  her 
side. 

The  masts  were  cut  away,  and  she  righted 
But  a  hurricane  soon  followed,  and  the  vesscx 
was  tossed  so  violently  upon  the  waves,  that 
she  soon  sprang  a  leak.  The  men  labored  at 
the  pumps,  but  in  spite  of  all  their  efforts,  she 
gradually  filled  with  water.  * 

Two  days  and  two  nights,  she  was  kept 
afloat  by  incessant  exertion.  At  length,  worn 
out  with  fatigue,  watching  and  anxiety,  the 
men  relaxed  their  efforts,  the  storm  continued, 
and  the  vessel  was  soon  nearly  full  of  water. 
No  hope  remained  now  but  in  the  long  boat. 


parley's    tales    op    ASIA.  93 

This  was  prepared,  and  some  things  were 
put  into  it.  The  captain  then,  and  the  sailors, 
all  got  into  the  boat,  and  put  off  to  sea.  It 
was  night  when  they  left  the  ship,  but  they 
could  see  it  go  down  among  the  boiling  waves. 
The  storm  still  continued,  and  the  boat  was 
thrown  hither  and  thither  bj  the  billows,  as 
if  it  had  been  a  mere  plaything. 

The  storm  continued  during  the  night,  but 
in  the  morning  it  ceased.  But  the  sky  was 
cloudy,  and  the  poor  seamen  discovered  to 
their  great  distress,  that  their  compass,  which 
they  had  put  on  board  their  boat,  had  been 
washed  overboard. 

I  suppose  you  have  heard  of  a  mariner's 
compass.  It  is  a  very  curious  instrument, 
with  a  little  piece  of  steel,  which  is  called  the 
needle,  and  which  always  points  to  the  north. 
It  is  this  valuable  contrivance,  which  enables 
the  seaman,  when  in  the  midst  of  the  ocean 
to  determine  his  course.  Without  it,  the 
sailor,  when  at  sea^  is  often  utterly  at  a  loss 


94  parley's  tales   of  asia. 

which  way  to  steer,  and  knows  not  whether 
he  is  going  toward  the  place  to  which  he  is 
bound,  or  in  the  opposite  direction. 

This  was  the  situation  of  Jenkins  and  his 
companions.  The  weather  continued  cloudy, 
and  for  several  days  they  knew  not  in  which 
direction  they  were  going.  They  continued 
however  to  row  forward,  in  the  hope  of  meet- 
ing some  vessel  that  might  take  them  up. 

For  more  than  a  week,  they  were  in  this 
situation.  At  length  they  discovered  by  the 
seaweed  that  they  were  approaching  the  shore. 
This  filled  their  hearts  with  delight,  for  they 
had  already  exhausted  their  food,  and  for  more 
than  two  days  they  had  been  entirely  destitute 
of  water. 

By  and  by,  they  reached  the  land.  It  was 
a  lonely  desolate  spot,  presenting  nothing  to 
the  view  but  an  uneven  desert  of  sand.  The 
hearts  of  the  poor  seamen  now  sank  within 
them.  There  was  no  human  habitation  in 
sight,  and  there  were  no  traces,  which  seemed 


parley's    tales    of    ASIA.  95 

to  indicate  the  vicinity  of  man.  A  few  os- 
triches fled  affrighted  across  the  desert,  and 
these  were  the  only  living  things  that  met  the 
eyes  of  the  wanderers. 

Parched  with  thirst,  and  famishing  for  want 
of  food,  they  reentered  their  boat,  and  coasted 
along  the  shore.  Faint  and  weary  they  re- 
peatedly landed,  but  all  wore  the  same  dry, 
barren,  and  desolate  aspect. 

At  length  they  landed  again,  and  deter- 
mined to  divide  themselves  into  different  par- 
ties, and  go  in  search  of  water.  Four  of  the 
men  were  so  exhausted,  that  they  lay  down  on 
the  sand,  and  resigned  themselves  to  their  fate. 
The  rest  departed  in  various  directions.  Jen- 
kins and  one  of  the  sailors  went  by  themselves. 

They  proceeded  a  considerable  distance, 
but  found  no  water.  The  heat  was  now  in- 
tolerable. The  sand  was  so  hot  as  to  blister 
their  feet  in  walking  over  it.  The  air  was 
suffocating,  and  yet  not  a  drop  of  water  could 
be  found 


PARLEY  S    TALES    OF    ASIA. 


SAILOR  BY  mo  OF  TBIKiST 


96  parley's  tales  op  asia. 

The  poor  sailor  who  accompanied  Jenkins, 
could  proceed  no  farther.  His  tongue  was  so 
much  swollen,  and  his  mouth  so  dry,  that  he 
could  not  speak.  Looking  up  with  a  piteous 
expression,  he  begged  Jenkins  to  go  forward, 
and  leave  him  to  his  fate.  But  this  the  latter 
refused  to  do.  He  sat  down  by  the  poor  man, 
and  contributed  ajl  in  his  power  to  alleviate 
his  distress. 

Occupied  in  these  humane,  though  unavail- 
ing efforts,  Jenkins  for  sometime  did  not  look 
around  him.  By  and  by  he  heard  a  noise, 
which  caused  him  to  look  up.  To  his  great 
surprise  he  saw  that  a  man  in  a  strange  dress, 
was  standing  by  his  side,  and  that  a  loaded 
camel  was  a  short  distance  from  him, 

Jenkins  perceived  at  once  that  the  man  was 
an  Arab.  He  begged  him  by  signs  to  give 
him  some  water.  The  Arab  handed  him  a 
leathern  bottle  containing  several  gallons. 
Jenkins  applied  it  to  the  lips  of  the  dying 
man,  but  it  was  too  late ;  with  a  feeble  groan, 


parley's    tales    of    ASIA  91 

he  stretched  himself  upon  the  sand,  and  breath- 
ed no  more. 

Jenkins  having  refreshed  himself  with  a 
draught  of  water  from  the  bottle,  was  about 
to  set  out  with  it  towards  his  companions. 
To  this  the  Arab  objected.  Jenkins  endeav- 
oured to  make  him  understand  that  he  had 
friends  at  no  great  distance,  who  were  djing 
for  want  of  water. 

But  the  Arab  was  immovable.  Pretty 
soon  about  a  dozen  more  Arabs  came  up,  with 
as  many  camels.  Jenkins  was  instantly  seiz- 
ed, his  hands  were  tied  behind  him,  and  ho 
was  placed  on  one  of  the  camels. 

For  several  days  the  party  travelled  over 
the  desert.  At  length  they  came  to  a  tribe 
consisting  of  several  hundred  Arabs,  with  a 
great  multitude  of  cattle.  They  were  living 
in  tents,  and  subsisted  chiefly  upon  the  milk 
of  the  camels. 

They  had  remarkably  swift,  and  beautiful 
horses.    Of  these  they  were  very  fond.    They 


98  parley's  tales  of  asia. 

fed  them  with  the  greatest  care,  kept  them 
sheltered  under  the  same  tents  where  the 
people  slept,  and  caressed  them  as  if  they 
were  their  dearest  companions. 

Jenkins  had  no  great  difficulty  in  discover- 
ing that  he  was  in  Arabia,  and  that  he  was 
among  one  of  those  wandering  tribes,  who  in- 
habit the  vast  deserts  of  that  country. 


CHAPTER  XIX. 

Some  account  of  Arabia.     JenJdns'^s  Adventures  continued, 

I  MUST  now  tell  you  a  little  about  Arabia. 
It  lies  to  the  east  of  Egypt,  and  is  separated 
from  it  by  the  Red  sea.  When  the  children  of 
Israel  fled  from  the  persecutions  of  Pharaoh, 
they  crossed  the  Red  sea,  and  entered  Arabia. 
It  was  here  that  they  wandered  about,  forty 
years,  in  search  of  the  land  of  promise,  to 
which  their  prophets  had  directed  them. 

Mount  Sinai,  at  the  foot  of  which  they  en- 


parley's    tales    of    ASIA.  99 

camped,  and  where  Moses  received  the  ten 
commandments  from  God,  is  still  to  be  seen  in 
tfte  western  part  of  this  country.  It  was  in 
Arabia  too,  that  Job  lived.  The  land  of  Uz 
is  supposed  to  have  been  situated  in  the  north- 
eastern part,  not  far  from  where  Jenkins  was 
taken  by  the  Arabs. 

Arabia  is  a  very  extensive  country,  and  has 
about  as  many  inhabitants  as  the  whole  of  the 
United  States.  Those  parts  which  border  on 
the  sea  are  generally  fertile,  but  the  w^hole  in- 
terior consists  of  immense  deserts.  Along  the 
sea,  there  are  a  good  many  towns  and  villages, 
but  the  deserts  are  occupied  by  roving  tribes 
who  possess  large  flocks.  They  live  by  pas- 
turage, by  the  flesh  and  milk  of  their  cows 
and  camels,  and  by  plundering  all  such  travel- 
lers as  come  in  their  way.  It  was  into  the 
hands  of  one  of  these  tribes,  that  Jenkins  had 
the  misfortune  to  fall. 

Where  is  Mount  Sinai  1 
Where  was  the  land  of  Uzl 
What  ©f  Arabial 


100  PARLEY  S  TALES  OF  ASLA. 

He  soon  found  that  his  situation  among 
these  people  was  by  no  means  a  pleasant  one» 
He  was,  in  fact,  reduced  to  slavery,  and  made 
to  perform  every  species  of  drudgery.  The 
Arabs  being  Mahometans,  and  finding  that 
Jenkins  was  a  Christian,  looked  upon  him 
with  great  contempt,  and  seemed  to  delight 
in  making  his  situation  disagreeable. 

But  all  this  he  bore  with  patience,  silently 
resolving  to  seize  the  first  opportunity  to  es- 
cape. But  near  six  months  elapsed  before 
any  chance  of  this  kind  was  offered.  At 
length,  the  cattle  having  devoured  all  the  grass 
and  shrubbery  which  grew  upon  the  spot 
where  they  were,  the  tribe  concluded  to  re- 
move. 

The  tents  were  taken  down,  and  rolled  up 
These,  with  the  few  articles  of  furniture,  and 
the  women  and  children,  were  placed  on  the 
camels.  They  now  commenced  their  march, 
and  proceeded  across  the  desert.  As  the 
weather  was  excessively  hot,  they  rested  by 


parley's    tales    of    ASIA,  101 

day,  and  travelled  at  night.     They  were  guid- 
ed by  the  stars  in  their  course. 

One  day  Jenkins  perceived  among  the  tribe 
a  sudden  panic,  as  if  they  were  struck  with 
fear.  The  men  and  women  fell  upon  their 
faces  and  lay  flat  on  the  ground.  The  camels 
knelt  down,  and  placed  their  noses  close  to 
the  earth.  Jenkins  looked  around  for  the 
cause  of  all  this. 

At  a  little  distance,  he  saw  a  thick  cloud  of 
sand  moving  directly  towards  them.  It  ap- 
peared like  a  huge  mountain  coming  to  over- 
whelm them.  Jenkins  imitated  the  rest,  and 
fell  upon  his  face.  The  cloud  rolled  on,  and 
buried  the  travellers  beneath  it.  It  was  al- 
most impossible  to  breathe,  the  air  was  so  fill- 
ed with  sand. 

At  length  it  passed  by.  The  people  rose 
from  the  ground,  and  shook  from  them  the 
sand,  which  had  half  covered  them.  They 
then  proceeded  on  their  journey.     These  mov- 

Deacribe  the  movins:  clouds  of  sand  that  Jenkins  sawl 


102  parley's  tales  of  asia. 

ing  clouds  are  very  common  in  these  deserts, 
and  sometimes  travellers  are  buried  so  deeply 
in  the  sand,  as  to  perish. 

It  was  but  two  or  three  days  after  this,  that 
a  hot  wind  called  the  Simoon  began  to  blow. 
The  effects  of  this  were  dreadful.  The 
stunted  leaves,  and  flowers^  which  grew  here 
and  there,  w^re  almost  instantly  withered, 
as  if  they  had  been  scorched  by  fire. 

The  horses  ran  out  their  tongues,  as  if  in 
the  greatest  distress,  and  a  number  of  the 
camels  died.  The  people  also  suffered  ex- 
ceedingly from  the  suffocating  and  poisonous 
quality  of  the  atmosphere.  This  lasted  for 
two  days.  Then  the  Simoon  passed  by  and 
the  travellers  continued  on  their  route. 

One  night  there  was  a  sudden  halt  of  the 
party.  Then  about  thirty  of  the  men  mount- 
ed on  their  fleetest  horses,  and  rode  off  in  dif- 
ferent directions.  Jenkins  could  not  imagine 
at  first  what  this  meant.    He  afterwards  learn- 

Describe  the  Simoon 


parley's    tales    of    ASIA.  103 

ed  that  there  was  a  caravan  at  no  great  dis- 
tance. 

This  consisted  of  about  one  hundred  camels- 
and  fifty  people,  several  of  them  were  mer- 
chants, who  had  with  them  a  good  deal  of 
valuable  merchandise.  The  thirty  Arabs, 
though  they  set  out  in  different  directions,  all 
suddenly  united,  and  surrounding  the  caravan, 
fell  upon  the  astonished  travellers  at  the  same 
instant. 

There  was  little  or  no'  resistance  offered, 
and  the  Arabs  began  their  plunder;  seizing  up- 
on the  most  valuable  articles,  they  soon  loaded 
their  horses,  and,  left  the  caravan  to  pursue  its 
route.  They  then  returned  to  the  tribe,  load- 
ed with  their  spoils. 

At  length  the  tribe  arrived  at  a  tolerably 
fertile  spot  in  the  desert.  Here  they  deter- 
mined to  remain.  Jenkins  now  learned,  that 
they  were  not  more  than  two  hundred  miles 
from  the  northeastern  coast  of  Arabia.  He 
therefore  determined,  as  soon  as  possible,  to 


104  PARLEY  S    TALES    OF    ASIA. 

steal  awaj  silently,  and  take  his  chance  of  es- 
cape across  the  desert. 

One  night,  when  the  sky  was  obscured  by 
clouds,  he  silently  left  the  tribe,  and  proceeded 
in  an  easterly  direction.  He  had  provided 
himself  with  a  sword  and  a  pair  of  pistols,  and 
determined,  if  pursued,  to  resist  to  the  utmost. 
He  travelled  the  whole  night,  and  in  the  morn- 
ing hid  himself  beneath  some  thorny  shrubs. 

Here  he  slept  a  great  part  of  the  day.  He 
had  with  him  some  dried  camel's  flesh,  up- 
on which  he  subsisted!.  He  was  fortunate  in 
finding  some  water,  though  it  was  brackish. 
Toward  night  he  again  set  out,  and  travelled 
with  the  utmost  diligence  till  morning. 

Thus  for  four  days  and  four  nights  he  pursu- 
ed his  solitary  journey.  On  the  fifth  day,  his 
meat  being  entirely  gone,  he  began  to  feel  the 
pressure  of  hunger.  Fortunately  he  discover- 
ed a  young  Ostrich  which  he  approached  from 
behind  a  bush,  and  shot  with  his  pistol. 

He  gathered  a  few  dried  branches  of  the 


PARLEY  S    TALES    OF    ASIA. 


JENKINS  ATTACKED  BY  AN  ARAB. 


PARLEY'S    TALES    OF    ASIA.  105 

acacia,  a  shrub  which  produces  gum  Arabic. 
These  he  set  on  fire  with  a  flash  of  his  pistol. 
By  this  fire  he  roasted  a  piece  of  the  ostrich, 
which  he  found  to  be  very  good. 

Scarcely  had  he  finished  his  meal,  when  he 
saw  a  man  on  horseback,  at  a  considerable  dis- 
tance, coming  towards  him.  Jenkins  imme- 
diately perceived  that  this  man  was  attrac^ 
ted  by  the  smoke.  Very  soon  the  horseman 
approached,  and  began  to  ride  round  him  in  a 
wide  circle. 

He  came  nearer  and  nearer,  and  Jenkins 
soon  recognised  him  as  one  of  the  Arabs  whose 
tribe  he  had  left.  Having  rode  around  him 
several  times,  the  horseman  suddenly  darted 
from  his  circular  motion,  and  rode  directly 
toward  Jenkins.  Whirling  his  sabre  over  his 
head,  he  came  like  an  arrow  shot  from  the 
bow.  Jenkins  was  not  unprepared.  He  stood 
wdth  his  pistol  in  one  hand,  and  his  sword  in 
the  other.  He  was  a  man  of  great  strength 
and  activity. 


106  parley's  tales  op  asia. 

The  Arab  was  within  a  few  feet  of  him, 
with  his  sabre  lifted  in  the  air.  It  descended 
like  lightning,  and  passed  about  an  inch  over 
the  head  of  Jenkins,  thus  leaving  him  unharm- 
ed. The  Arab  escaped  not  so  well.  Jenkins 
discharged  his  pistol,  but  without  effect.  The 
horse  however,  affrighted,  started  suddenly 
aside,  and  threw  the  Arab  on  the  ground.  But 
he  was  instantly  upon  his  feet,  and  he  ran 
with  great  agility  toward  his  horse.  The 
trusty  animal,  at  first,  was  running  off  with 
great  speed,  but  when  he  heard  the  call  of  his 
master,  he  turned  instantly  round,  put  forward 
his  ears  and  came  trotting  up  to  him,  with  the 
strongest  tokens  of  interest  and  affection.  The 
Arab  leaped  upon  his  back,  and  galloped  off 
across  the  plain. 

Jenkins  now  knowing  his  route  was  discov- 
ered, supposed  that  he  should  be  immediately 
pursued  by  more  than  one  of  the  Arabs.  He 
therefore  determined  to  press  his  journey  with 
the  utmost  expedition.  That  day  and  the 
next  night,  he  travelled  without  ceasing. 


parley's    tales    op    ASIA.  107 

The  aspect  of  the  country  now  began  to 
change.  The  land  was  considerably  more 
elevated,  and  dates,  palms,  and  other  trees 
were  scattered  here  and  there  over  the  land- 
scape. The  next  morning  he  discovered  the 
sea  at  no  great  distance.  In  a  few  hours  he 
reached  the  coast. 

He  here  found  a  few  huts  which  looked  like 
a  village.  They  were  however  partly  in  ruins, 
and  there  seemed  not  to  be  a  single  inhabitant 
left.  He  wandered  about,  vainly  searching 
for  some  human  being  who  might  give  him 
food. 

After  reflecting  a  long  time  upon  his  situation, 
he  determined  to  take  possession  of  one  of  the 
huts,  and  live  there  till  some  vessel  should  come 
in  sight,  and  take  him  from  this  dreary  coast. 
Here  he  remained  for  several  days,  living  upon 
datt3S,  and  a  few  small  fish  that  he  caught 
with  his  hands. 

At  length  he  discovered  a  small  vessel,  at 
no  great  distance  from  the   shore      He  went 


108  parley's   tales   of   asia. 

upon  a  rock,  and  built  a  small  fire.  The 
smoke  was  discovered  by  the  people  in  the 
vessel,  and  they  cautiously  approached  the 
place.  Jenkins  went  to  meet  them,  and  to 
his  great  disappointment  found  that  they  were 
people  with  dark  skins  and  a  savage  aspect. 

But  he  made  no  resistance,  and  they  took 
him  on  board  of  their  little  vessel.  He  could 
not  understand  their  language,  which  he  found 
was  different  from  that  of  the  Arabs.  After 
sailing  two  days,  they  came  to  land.  They 
went  ashore,  and  at  no  great  distance  came  to 
a  little  village  of  small  mud  huts. 


CHAPTER  XX. 

Jenkinses  Adventures  continued. 

If  the  little  reader  of  this  book  will  look 
upon  the  map  of  Asia,  he  will  observe  that 
Arabia  is  separated  from  Beloochistan,  by  a 

Where  is  the  Gulf  of  Ox-mus'l 


109 

narrow  sea  called  the  Gulf  of  Ormus.  It  was 
across  this  gulf  that  Jenkins  was  carried,  and 
the  country  to  which  he  was  taken  was  what 
is  now  called  Beloochistan. 

The  inhabitants  of  this  country  consist  of 
various  tribes,  some  of  whom  are  in  a  savage 
and  others  in  a  barbarous  state.  Many  of 
them  are  wholesale  robbers,  who,  mounted  on 
camels,  attack  villages  by  night,  and  carry  off 
the  inhabitants  for  slaves.  These  they  often 
blindfold,  so  that  they  may  not  see  in  what 
direction  they  are  taken  away,  and  thus  have 
the  means  of  finding  their  way  back  to  their 
own  country. 

It  was  by  some  of  these  people  called  Be- 
looches,  that  Jenkins  was  captured.  I  have 
not  room  to  tell  you  all  the  details  of  his  cap 
tivity.  They  would  fill  a  large  book,  and  I 
"^have  but  a  few  pages  left.  I  can  therefore 
only  tell  you  in  general  terms,  what  happened 
to  him. 

In  the  first  place  he  was  taken  across  a 


110  PARLEYS    TALES    OF  ASIA. 

sandy  desert  to  Kelat,  and  sold  as  a  slave  to 
the  Khan  or  king.  Kelat  is  the  capital  of  Be- 
loochistan,  and  is  half  as  large  as  Boston. 
The  Khan  rules  over  some  of  the  tribes  of  Be- 
loochistan.  The  rest  are  subject  to  the  king 
of  Afghanistan.  ' 

After  remaining  here  in  servitude  a  long 
time,  Jenkins  was  purchased  by  a  merchant  of 
Cabul,  and  went  with  him  to  that  citj.  This 
is  the  capital  of  Afghanistan,  and  is  a  consid- 
erable city.  The  king  resides  there.  The 
Afghans  are  an  interesting  people,  and  are  far 
superior  to  the  Belooches.  They  have  regu- 
lar schools  in  all  the  towns,  and  the  people 
are  passionately  fond  of  wild  and  extravagant 
stories. 

From  Cabul,  Jenkins  went  with  his  master 
on  a  trading  expedition  to  Ispahan.  This  was 
once  a  magnificent  city,  but  it  has  lost  its  an- 
cient splendor.     Here  he  fell  in  with  an  Eng- 

What  is  the  capital  of  Beloochistan? 
What  is  the  capital  of  Afghanistan'? 
What  of  Ispahan! 


PARLEY'S    TALES    OF    ASIA.  Ill 

lish  traveller,  whom  he  p€rsuaded  to  pay  his 
ransom  to  the  Cabul  merchant. 

To  reward  the  Englishman  for  his  liberality, 
Jenkins  agreed  to  accompany  him  in  the  ca- 
pacity of  a  servant.  Thus  freed  from  slavery, 
and  in  the  society  of  persons  who  spoke  the 
same  language,  he  became  cheerful  and  happy. 

They  soon  set.  out  for  Teheran.  On  the 
way  they  passed  by  an  immense  salt  desert. 
In  some  parts  the  salt  is  here  so  thick  as  to 
cover  the  ground  with  a  crust,  which  has  the 
appearance  of  snow.  At  length  they  arrived 
at  Teheran.  This  is  the  capital  of  Persia, 
and  is  as  large  as  Boston. 

I  could  tell  you  a  good  deal  about  Persia, 
if  I  had  time.  The  people  are  the  most  polite, 
gay  and  learned  of  all  the  Asiatics.  They  are 
fond  of  poetry,  delight  in  music,  and  are  much 
addicted  to  dress.     They  bear  a  great  resem- 


What  is  the  capital  of  Persia! 

How  large  is  Teheran'? 

What  is  the  character  of  the  Persians'? 


112  parley's    tales    of    ASIA. 

blance  to  the  French,  and  are  as  fond  of 
amusements  as  the  people  of  Paris. 

From  Teheran  the  travellers  proceeded  to 
the  Caspian  sea.  This  they  crossed  and  en- 
tered Independent  Tartarj.  This  country 
they  found  thinly  inhabited  by  different  tribes 
of  Tartars.  Along  the  Caspian  sea  it  was 
tolerably  fertile,  but  in  the  interior  it  was  des- 
olate, and  mountainous.  They  were  several 
times  attacked  by  the  people,  who  seem  to 
be  given  to  robbery. 

They  soon  left  this  inhospitable  country, 
recrossed  the  Caspian  sea,  and  en'iered  the 
Caucasian  countries.  Here  they  had  occasion 
to  admire  the  fine  forms  of  the  men,  and  the 
beauty  of  the  women.  They  now  entered 
Turkey  and  visited  Aleppo. 

From  this  place  they  proceeded  to  Jerusa- 
lem. In  this  celebrated  city  they  remained  a 
long  time.  It  is  now  much  smaller,  and  far  less 
splendid,  than  it  was  in  the  time  of  Solomon. 

It  is  about  two  and  a  half  miles  in  circuit. 

What  can  you  tell  of  Independent  Tartary? 


parley's    tales    of    ASIA. 


JERUSALEM. 


M 


parley's    tales    of   ASIA.  113 

The  streets  are  narrow,  but  straight,  and  well 
paved.  The  houses  are  well  built  of  stone, 
but  there  are  no  windows  in  the  lower  stories, 
so  that  a  person  in  the  streets  might  imagine 
himself  to  be  in  a  prison. 

The  modern  city  is  built  upon  a  hill,  the 
ascent  of  which  is  steep  on  all  sides,  but  the 
north.  It  is  surrounded  by  mountains,  be- 
tween which  and  the  city,  is  a  fine  valley 
beautifully  cultivated. 

The  Jews,  who  once  were  a  great  nation, 
have  now  lost  their  power.  They  are  scat- 
tered over  the  world.  Wherever  they  exist, 
they  still  carry  with  them  their  peculiar  reli- 
gion, their  singular  customs,  and  their  strange 
opinions  and  feelings. 

Their  country  is  now  given  up  to  Turkey. 
Their  holy  city,  in  which  David  reigned,  where 
Solomon  built  his  temple,  and  Jesus  Christ 
performed  his  miracles,  is  now  in  the  hands  of 

those  who  believe  only  in  Mahomet. 

■ — ^^ 

What  of  the  Jews'? 


114  parley's    tales    of   ASIA. 

CHAPTER    XXI. 

After  remaining  several  weeks  at  Jerusa- 
lem, Jenkins  took  leave  of  the  English  traveller. 
The  latter  was  going  to  Mecca  in  Arabia,  to 
visit  the  famous  temple  of  Mahomet,  while  the 
former  was  anxious  to  return  to  his  native 
country.  Embarking  at  a  small  port  on  the 
Mediterranean  sea,  he  sailed  for  Smyrna.  At 
this  place  he  found  a  vessel  going  to  Boston. 

On  board  this  vessel  he  took  passage,  and 
arrived  a  few  weeks  after  I  reached  America, 
as  I  have  related. 

I  have  now  told  you  something  about  most 
of  the  countries  of  Asia.  I  could  tell  you  a 
great  deal  more  if  I  had  time.  It  would  be 
very  pleasant  to  me,  and  perhaps  entertaining 
to  you,  to  tell  you  the  history  of  these  countries. 

A  great  many  remarkable  events  have  taken 
place  in  Asia.  It  was  here  that  Adam  and 
Eve  had  their  dwelling  place  in  the  garden 
of  Eden.  Here  the  g;reat  things  recorded  in 
*he  Old  Testament  chiefly  happened.     Here 


parley's     tales    of    ASIA.  115 

the  first  great  empires  arose.  Here  most  of 
the  religions,  which  have  exerted  an  extensive 
influence  over  mankind,  have  had  their  origin. 

It  would  certainly  be  interesting  and  instruc- 
tive to  go  back,  and  study  what  has  passed  in 
regions  so  celebrated  as  these.  But  all  this 
is  too  extensive  a  field  for  me  to  enter  upon. 
You  will  find  in  larger  books  than  mine  the 
whole  story,  and  as  soon  as  you  can,  I  advise 
you  to  read  it.  I  should  have  been  glad  to 
have  given  you  a  more  particular  account  of 
Siberia.  Not  many  travellers  have  visited 
that  cold  region,  but  our  curiosity  is  excited 
in  proportion  to  the  difficulty  of  gratifying  it. 

Along  the  southern  parts  bordering  upon 
Tartary,  the  Siberians  resemble  the  Tartars. 
Along  the  northern  parts,  the  people  are  very 
short,  not  being  taller  than  the  shoulders  of  a 
man  among  us.  They  live  like  the  Lapland- 
ers, depending  upon  reindeer  chiefly  for  their 
subsistence,  and  for  most  of  their  comforts. 

At  the  northeastern  extremity  of  Asia,  is  a 

What  can  vou  tell  of  the  Siberians! 


PARLEY  S    TALES    OF    ASIA. 


KAMSCADALES. 


116  parley's    tales    op   ASIA. 

great  peninsula,  called  Kamskatcha.  The  in- 
habitants are  called  Kamskadales.  They  live 
partly  beneath  the  earth,  in  mud  cabins,  and 
subsist  to  a  great  extent  on  the  products  of 
the  sea. 

Near  the  termination  of  this  peninsula,  are 
some  of  the  most  sublime  mountains  in  the 
world.  They  rise  suddenly  from  the  plains, 
to  the  height  of  nearly  four  miles.  Their 
peaks  are  always  covered  with  snow,  and  seve- 
ral of  them  being  volcanic,  and  in  constant  ac- 
tivity, light  up  this  cold  and  desolate  extremity 
of  the  eastern  continent,  with  terrific  splendor. 

I  must  now  bid  you  farewell.  If  I  should 
find  time,  and  my  little  hearers  should  mani- 
fest a  desire  to  hear  from  their  talkative  Old 
Friend,  I  may  perhaps,  at  some  future  time, 
tell  them  some  stories  about  the  Islands  of  the 
Pacific  Ocean,  and  some  Tales  of  the  Sea. 

What  of  Kamskatcha'?     What  mountains  at  the  southern  extremifyl 


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